Monday, October 5, 2009
Think Pink Early: The need for change
It has come to the public's attention that women under 40 are at an increased risk for breast cancer. It is essential that women under the age of 40 recognize modifiable risk factors through early education and prevention. This bill would promote awareness and support to those women at risk or recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
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Promoting awareness is very important in preventing breast cancer and catching it in early stages. If caught in earlier stages, this disease has a much better outcome with less complications. Support for women at risk or recently diagnosed is another big factor because it can also decrease breast cancer complications and mortality rates. I think sometimes people do not know the risk factors or think "it won't happen to me...". If young women were more aware of how serious this disease is and how many women it affects, then they would be more likely to get checked regularly. Are there any specific ways this bill plans to educate younger women of the modifiable risk factors? Also, does this bill support breast cancer research?
Hi Heather,
This bill plans to bring education to young women through media coverage, through colleges, and other outlets. The bill also encourages health care providers to educate patients about breast cancer and their health risks due to their ethnicity, background, and genetic factors. This bill supports education toward young women. In supporting education it also is supporting research. In order to provide the most up to date educational tools for young women, adequate research must be completed.
I think that this is also very important. Many factors in society today are increasing risks of breast cancer at earlier ages and we need to be aware in order to prevent occurences. Something that I think could help would be to have some type of education for teen girls in high school along with a sex education class. If girls cannot afford health care, then the chances are that they won't know how to perform a BSE so someone needs to be able to teach them. This bill seems like it has already taken many important issues into consideration so are there any that you think would not actually be helpful?
With heart disease being the number one cause of death in the United States, recently breast cancer has been thrown to the sidelines. I think that it is very important to start the recognition process (again) that breast cancer is a huge issue in young women. Many young people have the invincible mindset, and bringing their attention to their risk for breast cancer will be an improvement to their education. Bringing education to the "college" age group will allow women who are for the first time on their own to acknowledge their risk factors. Will the bill allow for utilization of any screening tools?
-Posted by "Nurses for Stem Cell Research"
"Promoting breast cancer awareness and educating those on modifiable risk factors through media, colleges, and other outlets" sounds like a good idea and I can admit to seeing a lot of push for breast cancer in the last few years i.e. pink ribbons, pink gear in the NFL, student organiation fundraisers, etc.
But, would providing more money to promote awareness really make a difference in preventing breast cancer? Instead, why not put more money in research, technology, and treating those already diagnosed with breast cancer. Perhaps we could cure breast cancer with more money supporting advances in scientific discovery and technology.
You can throw millions of dollars into telling teenage girls tanning causes cancer, and they will even believe you! Yet I still see lines of students standing outside of the tanning beds and sprawled out on the beach with tanning oils summer through winter.
We all know that breast cancer is major issue, women should receive mammograms, perform self examinations, etc. What else could the health care industry possibly do to prevent future cases, provide earlier recognition, and reduce modifiable risk factors?
Thank you "Nurses for Stem Cell Research" for your comment! We firmly believe that education and being aware of risk factors (modifiable and non-modifiable) contribute to reducing breast cancer in young females. We agree with you - money should be put into developing better drugs and better treatments; however, the prevention and promotion of awareness could stop breast cancer in its tracks (this could mean that you would not have to utilize harsh drugs or invasive treatments). Part of our bill is to instill education in women in universities (target: young college aged women) and promoting awareness in minority ethnic groups. If we can promote nutrition, exercise, and knowing what is normal with your body (i.e. notice a change in breast tissue) maybe we can promote healthy women from the start.
Dear Susan, thanks so much for your post. We are so glad that you are in support of this bill! We think that it addresses all important issues in breast cancer education and that every little bit helps. We do not see anything that is not helpful - but maybe seeing something that is a potential problem is the cost issue. One of our concern is that is there really enough money to support this?
Anna - great question. We feel that this bill promotes self-screening and how to get to know your body through the education process. For example - how to give yourself a SBE, how often, what time of the month, etc. Thanks so much for your support!
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