Susan G. Komen for the Cure, State Lawmakers, Breast Cancer Survivors, Celebrities and Activists Call on Legislature to Strengthen Breast Cancer Screening Program for Underse...( Komen California Affiliates Join Nati...),Health

Komen California Affiliates Join Nationwide Campaign to Close the Gaps that

Make Breast Cancer Deadlier for Low-Income Women and Women of Color

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, hundreds of breast cancer advocates and survivors from the seven California Affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, key state legislators, health officials and entertainers including Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira called for stronger breast cancer policies at events which included lighting the State Capitol pink and a rally and concert at the Crest Theatre.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070122/NYM084LOGO)

At a symbolic pink lighting of the State Capitol building, California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-46), Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D-01) and Assemblyman Roger Niello (R-05) voiced support for closing the healthcare gaps that cause breast cancer to be deadlier for low-income women, minorities and the uninsured. This year, nearly 20,000 California women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 4,000 will die. Komen representatives called on the California legislature to increase funding and broaden eligibility requirements for the California Department of Health Services' Every Woman Counts Program, which provides screening and treatment for uninsured and under-insured women. More than 1.2 million women are eligible for screening under the program; however fewer than 250,000 women are served each year due to lack of funding.

"California has been hard hit by breast cancer and low-income women, the uninsured and women of color have been hit the hardest," said Hala Moddelmog, President and CEO for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "California is ranked 44th in the nation for providing women access to health insurance, and 21 percent of the state's women have no health insurance. The state needs to make a commitment to fund scre
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