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July 27, 2010
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program Could Save Many More With Adequate Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 27, 2010 – Cancer advocates today marked an historic milestone in the prevention and early detection of two of the deadliest cancers for women: the 20th anniversary of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), which provides access to lifesaving cancer screenings and treatment for millions of low-income and uninsured women.
The program, which is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has provided more than 8 million screening exams to more than 3 million women and detected more than 37,000 cases of breast cancer. Despite the program’s success, it is only able to serve fewer than one in five eligible women at current funding levels.
“For 20 years this program has saved lives by offering breast and cervical cancer screenings to women who otherwise could not get them,” said Christopher W. Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “Yet inadequate funding prevents the program from helping millions of low-income and uninsured women who need it. Congress needs to increase funding for this lifesaving program.”
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, but screening can reduce breast cancer mortality rates as much as 30 percent, saving thousands of lives each year. Furthermore, cervical cancer screenings using the Pap test can actually prevent cancer altogether by detecting precancerous lesions. Unfortunately, many women do not have access to lifesaving tests. Only 26 percent of uninsured or underinsured women over the age of 40 had a mammogram in the past year, compared with 56 percent of adequately insured women.
Since its establishment in 1990, the NBCCEDP has been implemented in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories and 13 American Indian/Alaska Native organizations. The program offers breast and cervical cancer screenings to more than 500,000 women every year, targeting racial and ethnic minorities, who tend to have lower screening rates for these cancers. ACS CAN and its grassroots advocates are working to boost both federal and state funding that supports the NBCCEDP.
In 2007, President Bush signed the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Reauthorization Act, which set a funding target of $275 million annually for five years. But Congress approved only $205 million for the program in fiscal year 2009 and $215 million in fiscal year 2010. ACS CAN is asking Congress to increase funding to $255 million for next year.
“The national breast and cervical cancer screening program provides a safety net for women to access lifesaving mammograms and Pap tests,” said Elizabeth T. H. Fontham, M.P.H., Dr.P.H., immediate past national volunteer president for the American Cancer Society and a breast cancer survivor. “Adequate funding for this program is crucial for it to be able to continue to provide lifesaving screenings and timely access to quality treatment.”
Cancer advocates celebrated the 20th anniversary of the program today at a Capitol Hill event. They were joined by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI); Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20); Representative Sue Myrick (NC-09); Dr. Marcus Plescia, director of the CDC’s Cancer Prevention and Control Division; and Vonnie Uzoukwau, a breast cancer survivor and ACS CAN volunteer who benefited from the program.
ACS CAN also released a report today titled Decades of Detection: Progress and Challenges of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Program. The report highlights stories of women successfully served by the NBCCEDP and discusses the need for adequate funding of this important program. To view a copy of the report, visit http://fightcancer.org/pdf/breastcancer/dod-report.pdf.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Christina Saull
(202) 585-3250
[email protected]
Steven Weiss
(202) 661-5711
[email protected]
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