News for the Ninth - 10.02.2009

Local Blogs - News for the Ninth

Friday, 02 October 2009

This month, Americans across the country are observing Breast Cancer Awareness Month as part of the ongoing effort to raise awareness about the critical need to prevent and cure this killer of women.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer and impacts more than 200,000 women annually while taking the lives of nearly 40,000 women annually, including mothers, daughters, sisters and wives.

One of the best ways to fight breast cancer is with early detection, and there’s a straightforward, three-step approach to breast cancer screening:

Annual mammograms beginning at age 40
Clinical breast exam at least every three years beginning at age 20, and annually from age 40 on
Monthly breast self-exam beginning by age 20

This year I have sponsored numerous pieces of legislation to help improve the health of all Americans. Among the health care legislation I support is the following:

H.Con.Res.158, introduced by Rep. Bob Etheridge, D-NC, is a resolution supporting creation of an Early Detection Month to enhance public awareness of screening for breast cancer and all other forms of cancer.

H.R.1740, the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act of 2009, introduced by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-FL, would initiate an evidence-based public education campaign about breast cancer in women under age 40; educate health care professionals about the risk factors, opportunities for genetic counseling and testing and challenges that face young women diagnosed with breast cancer; provides grants to organizations that provide credible health information directed to young women diagnosed with breast cancer.

H.R.2964, the Mobile Mammography Promotion Act of 2009, introduced by Rep. Dean Heller, R-NV, would allow mobile mammography units (“mammovans”) to purchase fuel without the federal excise tax. The provision is modeled after several existing exemptions for blood centers.

Breast cancer affects many of us personally. That is why it is important that we mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month and encourage our loved ones to take an active role in helping to protect their health through early detection and screening.

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