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Support the EARLY ACT
Carol Greenberg 912-927-9922/
MStararts@gmail.com
 In
late March, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida) introduced the EARLY Act,
Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act, H.R. 1740 in the United
States House of Representatives. Recently, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) introduced
S. 994, similar legislation in the United States Senate.
This important life saving legislation will have three main components: (1) A national
public education campaign directed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
to increase the awareness among young women under the age of 40 of the threats posed by
breast cancer, steps to reduce the risks, and early detection techniques; (2) An
educational campaign directed by the CDC towards healthcare professionals to increase the
awareness of the distinct risk factors and treatments including infertility and recurring
malignancies specific to young women under 40; (3) supports young women diagnosed with
breast cancer and encourages them to speak up for themselves and embrace support from the
community.
This year alone, approximately 10,000 young women will be diagnosed with breast cancer
(American Cancer Society). Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in young
women under the age of 40. In the Jewish community, one in 40 Jewish women of Ashkenazi
descent carry an alteration referred to as the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene (Sharsheret). BRCA1 and
BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes, those which regulate cell growth and are needed to stop
cancer from developing. Women with an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene are three to seven times
more likely to develop breast cancer, often before the age of 50. African American women
have a higher incidence rate of breast cancer than Caucasian women.
Currently, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and over 360 Democrat and Republican House members have
cosponsored H.R. 1740, the EARLY Act in the House of Representatives. Thus far, S.994 the
Senate's version of the EARLY Act has over 13 cosponsors. Your signature to this vital
petition will urge the House and Senate to debate and discuss the EARLY Act and send the
bill to President Barack Obama for signature,
Click here to go to
Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Website on EARLY bill
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