Lorraine Pace Urges NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo to Sign Mammogram Bill into Law

(Bay Shore, New York) — Lorraine Pace, President, Breast Cancer Help, Inc., is urging New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign a bill into law that would provide the necessary information to women with dense breast tissue about the potential benefits of further screenings with their physician. She says this would give women another tool in the fight against breast cancer.

The New York State Legislature recently passed a bill sponsored by New York State Senator John Flanagan and New York State Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee that would provide women with dense breasts the information they need to make decisions regarding their healthcare. Under the bill, every mammography report given to the patient must explain to them in plain language that they have dense breast tissue and should discuss the possibility of undergoing other detection methods, such as ultrasound, with their physician.

Senator Flanagan’s legislation was supported by Breast Cancer Help, Inc., who waged numerous email campaigns urging breast cancer supporters and local legislators to support the bill. These efforts to get the bill passed were initiated by JoAnn Pushkin, a Dix Hills resident and breast cancer survivor who is Founder of the New York chapter of D.E.N.S.E. (Density Education National Survivors’ Effort), a national grassroots organization to raise awareness about breast density.

Ms. Pace emphasized the need to get the bill passed, citing medical studies showing that breast cancer is five times more likely to occur in women with dense breast tissue and mammograms miss up to 40% of tumors that can be found behind dense breast tissue.

“We would like to thank Senator Flanagan and Ms. Pushkin, who worked really hard to get this bill passed,” Ms. Pace said. “Ultrasound is yet another tool for early detection, which is another weapon we have in the fight against breast cancer until a cause and a cure are found. This bill would provide women the availability of further screenings. I hope that Governor Cuomo signs the bill into law; I cannot see why he wouldn’t.”

For more information, please call (631) 675-9003 or visit www.breastcancerhelpinc.org.

Breast Cancer Help, Inc. is a not-for-profit grass roots organization with a focus on action and advocacy to eradicate breast cancer. Founded in 1994 by Lorraine Pace, a two time breast cancer survivor, and Father Thomas Arnao, Breast Cancer Help, Inc. uses a four pronged approach to promoting education and awareness of breast cancer issues. The first of these prongs is the West Islip breast cancer mapping project initiated by Lorraine Pace, which mobilized patients and pinpointed breast cancer clusters. This original mapping project, which spearheaded the breast cancer environmental movement, has now spread to other parts of New York, the U.S. and internationally. Since its inception, the group’s goal has been to raise awareness and promote education for the cause, treatment, and cure of the disease; while maintaining a focus on action and advocacy to eradicate breast cancer. It has accomplished this by mobilizing patients into coalitions leading to breast cancer mapping projects, serving as advocates to change state and local laws to protect breast cancer patients, and working to bring about positive changes in protecting the environment. Breast Cancer Help, Inc. has helped to ensure that Long Islanders have access to the best possible diagnosis and care through the purchase of cutting edge medical and research equipment. It has also supported research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. In 2003, Breast Cancer Help opened its Long Island Cancer Help and Wellness Center, now located at 32 Park Avenue in Bay Shore to provide increased cancer awareness to promote education and early detection while providing patients and survivors with much needed support.

Hank Russell, Public Relations Director
The Public Relations and Marketing Group
156 North Ocean Avenue
Patchogue NY 11772
(631) 207-1057
hrussell@theprmg.com

This release was published on openPR.