ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, November 5, 1996 TAG: 9611050036
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SUSAN ALLEN
SADLY, we all know someone - a mother, sister, friend, neighbor - who has faced breast cancer. I know that I do. My mother-in-law, my grandmother and great-grandmother have all battled this terrible disease. In fact, the circle grows larger every day with friends, families and loved ones who are stricken by breast cancer.
In Virginia during 1996, an estimated 4,500 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed and nearly 1,100 lives are expected to be lost. In fact, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, second to lung cancer, among women in Virginia. A disproportionate number will come from women in low-income and minority groups who have little or no insurance coverage. But we can and are fighting this disease.
Fortunately, last month we announced a grant of $5 million to assist Virginia's efforts to fight breast cancer. Specifically, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control will provide the Virginia Department of Health an initial award of $1 million to begin screening for breast and cervical cancer in the coming year. Over the next five years, Virginia will receive more than $5 million to be used to provide mammograms and Pap tests to low-income and minority women over age 50. During the next few months, the Health Department will identify where screening sites will be located. They will work with medical facilities and health professionals to establish partnerships to provide screening tests throughout Virginia.
Even though we do not yet know how to prevent or cure breast cancer, we do know how to fight it. It is known that mammography detects 90 to 95 pecent of all breast cancers. In fact, mortality due to breast cancer can be reduced 30 to 40 percent among women age 50 and over by the use of mammography, annual clinical exams and monthly self examinations.
The good news is that years of hard work, raising awareness and education are paying off. In May, the National Cancer Institute announced that the overall breast-cancer death rate in American women is decreasing. But this is not the time to rest or to walk away from our efforts to raise awareness of breast cancer. We must continue this cause until early detection and regular mammograms are a part of every woman's life.
Three years ago, Virginia joined a national program to protect women from breast and cervical cancer. Now, all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and two U.S. territories and 13 Native American tribes are in this fight together. We are all working to promote awareness and reduce the incidences of these cancers through mammograms and Pap tests. As a result, this united effort makes this the first chronic disease program to operate in every state in the nation.
And we have taken additional steps to prevent breast cancer in Virginia. Earlier this year, legislation was signed that will enhance our efforts to reduce the number of lives lost to this disease. Now, it is required that health-insurance policies issued in Virginia include coverage of mammograms as mandatory options. The combination of the grant and this bill signed by the governor provide increased protection for women in Virginia.
We are making enormous progress. Over the past 21/2 years, I have been fortunate to meet with breast-cancer patients, survivors and their families, and participate in breast-cancer awareness events. Throughout the past month, I have joined with Virginians to plant pink dogwoods across the commonwealth to honor the women and families who have faced this deadly disease. It is my hope that these trees will serve as a constant reminder of our fight against breast cancer and the lives that can be saved through early detection.
As a mother, wife and daughter, I realize that the risks are not worth taking where our health is concerned. Through early detection and education, we can save lives.
Susan Allen is the wife of Virginia Gov. George Allen.
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