In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we want to introduce you to Ernie Bodai, MD. Dr. Bodai directs the Breast Health Center at Kaiser Permanente Sacramento, and is also an author and holds a number of medical device patents. But the reason we’re sharing this conversation with you today is that he’s also the man behind the well-known Breast Cancer Research Stamp – the very first stamp in history to sell at more than face value, with the extra amount going directly toward breast cancer research.
The Center for Total Health blog sat down recently with Ernie to talk about his efforts to increase breast cancer awareness – his work so far and what he hopes to see happen with it in the future.
CTH Blog:
How did you come to create a postage stamp? What was your inspiration?
EB:
My inspiration for creating the Breast Cancer Research Stamp came from an awareness of the need for increased funding for research. It really was a godsend to create a stamp priced slightly higher than the normal first-class stamp with extra proceeds used to directly fund research.
CTH Blog:
Tell us about the art behind the stamp.
EB:
The artist — Whitney Sherman, from Baltimore, Md. – incorporated beautiful symbolism in the design. The stamp depicts Dianna Artemis, the Roman mythological protector of women. She is reaching for a bow in her quiver to fend off the enemy (in this case, breast cancer). In reaching for that bow, she assumes the position for breast self exam and mammography; it’s a subtle reminder for women to get their examinations in a timely manner. The rainbow coloring of the stamp has two meanings: It reminds us that this is a disease that affects women of all colors, and the rainbow also serves as a symbol of hope – in this case, hope for a cure.
CTH Blog:
The response to the stamp has been incredible in the 13 years since it was launched. How do you feel about that?
EB:
Since its inception, the BCRS has raised $79 million through the sales of more than 950 million stamps in the United States alone. This is beyond my wildest expectations, especially in regards to some of the major research projects which have been funded to advance the chance for a cure.
CTH Blog:
As a healer, what has been one of the most rewarding things about your work on the stamp?
EB:
We have sold 950 million stamps; that means billions of people have seen it. Some bought it, some delivered it, and some got it. That awareness is priceless. And some of the discoveries made with the research dollars are also applicable to other cancers, such as colon and ovarian cancer, so we really are fighting cancer on all fronts.
CTH Blog:
What’s next? Would you talk about your efforts to expand the stamp to other countries?
EB:
Currently, more than 20 countries worldwide have a BCRS, and we are working on bringing it to dozens more. Each country that issues the BCRS keeps all the monies in that country.
CTH Blog:
What excites you most about your work on this project?
EB:
The BCRS monies are funding major studies in genomics and nanotechnology, the two major areas in medical research that will hold the key to the early diagnosis and treatment of many diseases beyond cancer, including cardiac disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and more. Very exciting times. Very exciting things to come in the very near future.
If you’re interested in hearing more from Dr. Bodai, you can listen to this interview with him recorded in September 2010.
