Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) utilizes her platform during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month this month to remind women to put their health first and wellbeing. She urges women to engage in conversations openly with their doctors and stresses the importance of routine breast cancer screenings and educating themselves about the risks associated with the disease.
As an enumerator of the Senate Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Senator Britt is working hard in order to increase access to diagnostic tests to women across Alabama and across all of the United States.
In the last month Senator Britt brought back her Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act, a piece of legislation aimed at remove copays as well as other out-of-pocket costs for the breast cancer diagnosis tests. The goal of the legislation will make essential tests for diagnosing breast cancer more affordable and accessible to women. It is important to note that this bipartisan and bicameral legislation is authored by senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).
In May of this year in May of this year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released an updated recommendation that states that women must begin checking for the presence of breast cancer each every year, beginning at forty-year mark. In the past the USPSTF recommended initiating screening tests 10 years later. This shift is due to the rising rate of breast cancer that is invasive in younger women who are aiming at increasing the detection of cancer earlier.
The statistics of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama show that about 1 eight women will receive an aggressive breast cancer diagnosis within their lifetime. This includes around 4,500 women from Alabama by 2023.
In 2023 In 2023, it is estimated that by 2023 the American Cancer Society projects that more than 297,000 cases of cancers that are invasive to the breast will be discovered among women throughout the United States. A recent research published by the Journal of Radiology discovered that 40.6 percent of women would be able to skip further tests in the event of having to cover deductibles for the diagnostic test.
Senator Britt in announcing the significance of the month, said, “This month is not solely about raising awareness about breast cancer in America however, it is an opportunity to commit to the vital task of providing mothers and families with assistance and solutions based on evidence that they need to detect the disease and tackle their cancer head-on. We are aware that early detection is the best way to save lives and the significance of offering women the broadest range of treatments and the greatest chance of beating this cancer cannot be overstated. I’d like to encourage women to speak with their healthcare provider this month to get screened. is the most effective method of detecting breast cancer earlier. We will always advocate for the research and education on breast cancer and prevention efforts to find finding a cure for this disease.”
The law currently in force mandates that insurance companies provide insurance coverage to breast cancer tests, without copayments. However, it doesn’t extend this insurance coverage to diagnostic tests. In the event that your initial scan raises questions regarding breast cancer risk and further tests, such as mammograms MRIs as well as ultrasounds might be necessary to determine the definitive diagnosis. About 10% of mammograms that are screening are accompanied by further diagnostic testing. Also, periodic diagnostic testing is recommended for those who have had a previous breast cancer diagnosis, or a gene-related predisposition for the cancer.
In this month’s issue in which members of the American Society of Breast Surgeons supported ABCD Act. ABCD Act and extended their gratitude to the Senators for their constant advocacy and support of patients suffering from breast cancer.
