U.S. Senator Katie Britt Recognizes National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Promotes Importance of Regular Screening
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 3, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) is recognizing October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During this month, women are encouraged to talk to their health care providers and get screened, as well as learn more about the benefits of regular screening and potential risk factors for the disease.
In April of this year, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a final recommendation statement that all women should begin screening for breast cancer every other year beginning at age 40. Previously, the USPSTF recommended starting tests a decade later, but given the rise in invasive breast cancer among younger women, the agency updated its recommendation to increase the likelihood of early detection.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama states that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, including an estimated4,000 women in Alabama in 2024.
In 2024, The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be detected in women across the United States, with 16% of those diagnoses occurring in women under the age of 50. This comes as breast cancer rates continue to rise in younger women who generally experience delayed diagnoses resulting in later-stage tumors that are more difficult to treat.
“This Breast Cancer Awareness month, I am encouraging every woman across Alabama and America to put their health first and talk to their doctor this month to discuss the best individual screening plan for them. As rates in breast cancer continue to rise in younger women, the importance of regular screening cannot be understated. Early detection saves lives,” said Senator Britt. “I am also calling on Congress to make diagnostic testing more affordable and accessible by passing Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s and my Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act. Our bill would alleviate barriers to diagnostic testing. I am committed to supporting cancer research, education, and prevention efforts, and I hope all Americans stand with me in that effort.”
Background on the ABCD Act:
As a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Senator Britt is working to provide women across Alabama and America with greater access to diagnostic testing.
She introduced the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), which would eliminate copays and other out-of-pocket expenses for breast cancer diagnostic tests, making them more accessible and affordable. The ABCD Act is bipartisan and bicameral.
A recent study conducted by the journal Radiology found that 40.6% of women would potentially skip additional imaging if they had to pay a deductible for a diagnostic test.
Under current law, insurance companies are required to provide no-copay coverage for breast cancer screenings but not diagnostic testing. If the initial screening shows that a patient may have breast cancer, further testing, including mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds, may be needed to make a diagnosis. An estimated 10% of screening mammograms require follow-up diagnostic testing. Regular diagnostic testing may also be recommended for patients who have had a prior breast cancer diagnosis or are genetically predisposed to breast cancer.
The American Society of Breast Surgeons has expressed its strong support for the ABCD Act, thanking the Senators for their advocacy and support for breast cancer patients. The Senators’ legislation also has the support of the Susan G. Komen foundation.
The full bill text of the ABCD Act is available here.
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