The EARLY Act: Right Message, Wrong Target

A friend--a doctor--has a 19 year old daughter who was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer.  Another friend--whose daughter went for her first mammogram at age 40 (as recommended), was found to have aggressive breast cancer her first time in the press.  Her father--who thought this disease had skipped generations (his mother died of it at age 42--but his sister did not get it) was diagnosed last winter HIMSELF!  As I read the stats, there is almost an epidemic of bc among women under 40.

Is there a way to support the Early idea with an emphasis on taking charge of our bodies at a young age--maintaining a life of being informed and knowing all the dangers as well as the options?  It is my feeling and experience that fear grows in a vacuum.  More information at an early age can only have a good effect if presented in a way that is positive and empowering rather than frightening.

As you well know--this diagnosis no longer has to be a death knell.  So much news is encouraging and healing.  You and your website are testimony to this.  You look great, by the way!  My daughter has curly hair growing back and looks better than ever (one year after diagnosis).  Life is good and hopeful.  Thanks for all your help along the way.

Thanks for your voice of common sense about breast health education.  What I would like to see is more emphasis on breast changes instead of breast lumps.  Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) has an average age of onset about 10 years younger than other forms, and usually doesn't have a lump.  Yet even IBC almost never affects teenagers.

My sister had breast cancer(in remission) I have prostae cancer(in remission/haven't been reased from dotor follow up's), my wife has anal cancer(confined to hospital bed at home) still undergoing chemo.  I read posts from different moderators on this site.Their comments and those of cancer patients and survivors are very educational.I feel that,the focus on  cancer has been slow as far as insurance coverage. Many insurance companies cringe when, someone applys for insurance and cancer as a preexisting condition is seen on ther application. If,a  applicant has no preexisting conditions,Insurance companies will fall all over themselves to cover applicants. I would like to see cancer patients,suvivors and sites like this one to work together in order to change how,people with cancer are treated by insurance companies. oh, by the way,my wife has medicare but no medigap insurance.I think laws should be changed as far as provisions pertaining to coverage for cancer patients and suvivors.Thank You. John

PJ -

If you were in the 5%, perhaps you might think differently.  For that 5% of us, breast cancer appears to be more deadly. While the survival statistics have improved for the 95%, for us in the 5% there has been no improvement in the last 20 years.  This bill is more about public education and awareness because all too often young women are not taken seriously when they present classic breast cancer symptoms.  Young women have to be taught how to see the symptoms and how to demand treatment.  One of the reasons there has been no change in survival statistics, is because it is hard to get research funding when you only represent 5% of the population.  We may be a small group, but we have been ingonored for far too long.  If this is what it takes so no other young woman gets breast cancer, has the chance to have a child taken from her due to treatment, goes through her most productive years with body image issues or debilitating persistent side ffects, or leaves behind young babies, then bring it on.  No piece of legislation will ever be perfect and please everyone.  There are outstanding parts to the EARLY Act that overshadow the minow flaws you point out.  It is never fair to forsake the 1 for the 99. Especially when you are the 1.

It''s grossly unfair to say that EARLY is "skewed too young." The bill covers adult women 45 and younger. I agree about getting teens overly concerned. But the fact is that 5% of breast cancer occurs in women 40 and younger  in the US. These women have special needs and deserve special attention and education. See  http://earlyactawareness.org  to register your  support for EARLY.

This legislation would provide US government funding ($45 million over five years) -- which really is just a drop in the bucket relative to the overall budget --to better educate young women *and their doctors* about breast health and breast cancer issues.

In recent years, new means have been developed to  reduce the likelihood of breast cancer in this age group, to identify women who are at higher risk of getting breast cancer (genetic testing, the HALO Breast Tap Test, etc.), and to treat  breast cancer very early on when it is  most curable.

 You can get the actual text of the bill at www.Thomas.gov (search for “early act”). There is a also site through which US residents can get more information and urge their senators to support the bill, at http://earlyactawareness.org.

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