Help Increase Survival for Young Women with Breast Cancer

From Advocacy Aliance, Komen for the Cure

You know that one in every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
What you may not know is that when breast cancer occurs in women under the age of 40, it is often detected at later stages, is more likely to be aggressive, and may be less responsive to hormone therapies.

Despite these facts, there is a lack of awareness about the risks and unique challenges facing young women with breast cancer. A new bill just introduced in Congress would change that.
Click here to urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act of 2009 – introduced by Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Sue Myrick (R-NC).

Today, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz revealed that she is a breast cancer survivor and has undergone seven major surgeries in little over a year since her diagnosis, while continuing to serve as a member of Congress. Please join me in applauding Congresswoman Wasserman Shultz for taking her personal battle against breast cancer public in an effort to shine a light on the issues young women face.

Young women with breast cancer struggle with many issues that women who are diagnosed with breast cancer later in life may not face. And because diagnosing breast cancer in young women can be more difficult, these women often don't learn about their disease until it is in advanced stages and more life threatening.

The EARLY Act will address these unique concerns in three key ways:

Public education. The bill will provide funding for an aggressive public education and media campaign targeting young women, with an emphasis on women under age 40 who are at higher risk due to their race, ethnicity or genetic heritage.

Resources for health professionals. Through additional training, health care professionals will be more aware of the risk factors, the opportunities for genetic counseling and testing, and the unique challenges that face young women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Support services. Younger women face additional strains including an increased impact on their dating lives, careers and ability to have children. This bill will address these concerns by providing grants for support services for young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

When breast cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent. But because many younger women are diagnosed at later stages with more aggressive breast cancer, their survival rate is lower. With increased awareness for genetic counseling and testing, early detection, and treatment, we can improve the odds. But we need your help.

Please take a moment to write your representatives today and urge them to support this important bill.

Thank you for all that you do. Together we can one day end the suffering and death caused by cancer.


Sincerely,
Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker
Founding Chair, Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Board Member, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Advocacy Alliance