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(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070122/NYM084LOGO)
Iowa's Care for Yourself screening program provides mammograms andclinical breast exams for uninsured and low-income women. But under currentfunding levels, the program serves less than ten percent of eligible women.
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"We need to make sure that every woman who needs a breast cancer screeninggets one -- even if she cannot afford to pay for it. We hope the Governor andthe Legislature will consider a $500,000 state appropriation for Care forYourself to meet the goal of increasing the number of Iowa women who arescreened by 20 percent within the next fiscal year," said Lisa Long, Presidentof the Des Moines Affiliate.
"Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for women in Iowa.This year, more than 2,000 Iowa women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and400 will die. Of the women who will die, most of them are uninsured orunderinsured. We need to move beyond talk and into action," said Diane Faris,the Des Moines Komen Race for the Cure Chair.
In the United States, a woman has about a 13 percent risk -- or one ineight -- of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. Low-income women aremore likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer and are three timesmore likely to die from the disease.
Today's event was part of Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Komen CommunityChallenge, a 25-city tour and powerful new grassroots campaign to reach tensof thousands through community rallies, town hall meetings and state lobbydays, rallying people together to close the gaps in research, policy andaccess to quality care that make breast cancer deadlier for some women thanfor others. Komen for the Cure is marking its 25th anniversary year byratcheting up the fight against breast cancer and highlighting the disparitiesin breast cancer incidence and mortality.
About the Des Moines Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
The Komen Des Moines Affiliate assists Iowans in 90 counties. Seventy-fivepercent of net donations stays in Iowa to provide services to the women in ourcommunities and 25 percent of net donations is put directly toward breastcancer research through the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program. TheDes Moines Affiliate's largest fundraiser, the Komen Race for the Cure, willbe held on October 6, 2007 at Western Gateway Park. For more information onthe local Affiliate, or this year's Race, visit http://www.komendesmoines.org.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would doeverything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promisebecame Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancermovement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots networkof breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empowerpeople, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly$1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofitfunds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For moreinformation about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer,visit http://www.komen.org or call 1-800 I'M AWARE.
SOURCE Susan G. Komen for the Cure
