American Cancer Society Expert Testifies on Importance of Breast Cancer Awareness and Access to Cancer Care

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Holds Hearing to Highlight Breast Cancer Legislation

Washington, D.C. -- October 7, 2009 -- Reducing the number of breast cancer deaths in America requires that we improve access to affordable and adequate health insurance, expand the availability of mammograms, reduce disparities in care among low-income and minority populations, and educate young women about good breast health, testified Otis Brawley, M.D., chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health today.

The hearing, which focused on legislation related to improving breast cancer early detection, research, treatment, and quality of care, featured testimony from lawmakers, medical experts, and advocates.

“As we recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month this month, it is important to remember that many women lack access to adequate health coverage which provides life saving breast cancer detection services,” Brawley said during his testimony. “If every woman in the United States had access to accurate information about breast cancer, early detection and quality treatment, more women would survive the disease.”

Brawley’s testimony focused on the areas that are fundamental for improving breast cancer outcomes in the United States, including:

• guaranteeing access to affordable, adequate health care for all Americans
• improving access to evidence-based prevention and early detection services such as mammograms, and the increasing funding for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), a critical program that provides breast cancer screening and treatment to low-income, uninsured women
• ensuring evidence-based programs and services are available to help address the unique needs of young women who have breast cancer
• decreasing disparities and improving overall quality care for breast cancer patients

Click here to read Dr. Otis Brawley’s full testimony.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, accounting for nearly one in four cancers diagnosed.  This year in the United States, over 192,370 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 40,170 women will die from the disease.

Cancer in all of its forms is one of the most costly medical conditions. A recent survey by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) showed that half of people under age 65 with a history of cancer had difficulty affording medical costs in the previous year, and more than a quarter have used up all or most of their personal savings. For more survey results, visit www.acscan.org/cancerpoll.

Continued progress in the fight against cancer requires early diagnosis and timely access to medical care that gives all cancer patients an equal opportunity to battle this disease. Meaningful health care reform that promotes prevention and wellness and ensures quality of life throughout disease-directed treatment into survivorship will help change these statistics.

“We believe that a health system that works well for cancer patients, survivors and those at risk for cancer, will also work well for all Americans who may one day be faced with a serious medical condition,” Brawley said. “Continued progress in the fight against cancer requires early diagnosis and timely access to medical care that gives all cancer patients an equal opportunity to battle this disease. To help accomplish this, health care reform must happen now.”

Brawley is a practicing oncologist and the chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society.  A world renowned cancer expert, Brawley currently serves as professor of hematology, oncology, and epidemiology at Emory University. Previously, he held the position of medical director of the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, and deputy director for cancer control at Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University. He has also previously served as a member of the Society’s Prostate Cancer Committee, co-chaired the Surgeon General’s Task Force on Cancer Health Disparities, and served in a variety of capacities at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), most recently serving as director of the Office of Special Populations Research. He currently serves as a member of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection and Control Advisory Committee.

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit http://www.acscan.org/.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Christina Saull
Phone: (202) 585-3250
Email: Christina.Saull@cancer.org

Steve Weiss
Phone: (202) 661-5771
Email: Steve.Weiss@cancer.org