As a State Senator, I proudly passed the "Drive Thru Mastectomy Bill" which helped to better protect women as they cope with the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The bill changed a law which obligated thousands of women to undergo mastectomies as an outpatient in order to reduce costs for insurance companies. Now, as your United States Congresswoman, I am actively urging the passage of the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2005 (S 910/HR1849). This bill would ban the practice of "drive-through" mastectomies, allowing a woman and her doctor to decide whether she should recuperate for at least 48 hours in the hospital or whether she has enough support to receive quality care at home following this emotionally and physically demanding surgery.
To understand the necessity for breast cancer legislation, I believe that we must first recognize the importance of quality and accessible medical care in early prevention and detection of breast cancer. According to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, there are 212,920 new diagnoses and 40,970 deaths each year in women as well as 1,720 new cases and 460 deaths yearly in men. With statistics like these we cannot ignore breast cancer's detrimental impact on society!
The field of breast cancer research changes so quickly that oftentimes we hear conflicting and confusing reports on the cause of this disease. Some risk factors are high and more easily explainable- being female, getting older, family history- while other factors aren't as simple to detect or explain such as childbirth after age 30 or never at all, and age of menopause and breast density, to name a few. That is why taking preventive measures are paramount! Early detection techniques must be fully utilized, such as self-breast exams, clinical exams, and most importantly - mammograms.
Mammography is a technique that uses X-rays to provide an image of the breast. These images, called mammograms, are used to find potential signs of breast cancer: like tumors, small clusters of calcium and abnormal changes in the skin. Overall, mammography is the best screening tool available today for breast cancer. It can find cancers at an early stage, when they are small and most responsive to treatment.
Most insurance companies cover the cost of mammograms. In addition, in many areas of the country, low-cost or free mammograms are provided as part of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program. During October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many radiology facilities offer mammography at a reduced rate. To find out how to get a low-cost or free mammogram or to find a certified radiology center in your area, call the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline at 1.800.462.9273. You can also visit the FDA website at www.fda.gov/cdrh/mammography/certified.htm to search a list of certified radiology centers.
Another method of early detection is the self-breast exam, which is a screening method that is intended to find early tumors, particularly those that develop in the time between annual mammograms and clinical breast exams. By doing breast self-exams once a month, women can become familiar with the way their breasts look and feel normally and thus may be able to recognize changes, such as thickening, lumps, spontaneous nipple discharge or skin changes, such as dimpling or puckering. Any time a woman discovers a new lump that feels different from the rest of the breast or one that is different from what she has felt before, she should have it checked by a health care provider.
In the event an individual is diagnosed with breast cancer, it is important to know that many improvements have been made in the treatment of breast cancer. As a result, most breast cancer patients now live for at least 10 years after their diagnosis. Although each woman's treatment will be slightly different, it generally involves some combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or hormonal therapy.
These strides in technology and treatments prove the importance of ongoing breast cancer research. In September, as part of the Lifetime network's award-winning Stop Breast Cancer for Life campaign, the television station and Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, Jewel delivered more than 12 million petition signatures to Capitol Hill in support of the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2005.
Though previous versions of this legislation have stalled in committee, the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2005 has 179 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and 17 in the Senate. This is the time to make your voice heard! I encourage you to log onto the Lifetime network's website at http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php so that you can sign the petition for the passage of the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2005, which will be delivered to my colleagues in Congress.
It is a pleasure to serve as your voice in the U.S. House of Representatives. Your questions, thoughts, and concerns are important to me. Please do not hesitate to let me know of any problems or issues you consider significant. Feel free to contact my offices in Broward at 954-437-3936, in Miami-Dade at 305-936-5724, or in
