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Date: Friday, Oct. 18, 1996
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  HHS Press Office, (202) 690-6343 

Encouraging women across America to receive routine breast cancer screening, HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala promoted six, nationwide, toll-free numbers to locate accredited facilities offering free and reduced-fee screening mammograms in honor of National Mammography Day.

The numbers are:

These numbers operate throughout the year providing information about breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

"We know that regular mammograms can substantially reduce the chance of death from breast cancer," said Secretary Shalala. "It is important that we reach every American woman with this message."

The telephone services are part of activities and outreach efforts during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of early detection of breast cancer.

The first National Mammography Day was officially recognized by President Clinton on Oct. 19, 1993 and will be observed on Oct. 18 this year. On Oct. 3, 1996 President Clinton officially proclaimed October 1996 as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In his proclamation, he urged women to get mammograms as appropriate and to take advantage of preventive health services. He called upon government officials, businesses, communities, volunteers, educators, and the American public to work together to fight breast cancer.

Both the President and the First Lady have appeared in TV public service announcements encouraging older women to get mammography screenings. Currently Medicare covers one mammogram every two years for women age 65 and older. In his balanced budget proposal, President Clinton proposes to increase Medicare coverage to one mammogram annually for beneficiaries over 50, with no copayment or deductible requirement.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer among American women, accounting for 31 percent of all cancers among women. Although death rates from breast cancer have been declining in recent years, epidemiologic studies estimate that breast cancer will be diagnosed in 1.5 million American women in this decade, and that breast cancer will claim nearly half a million lives. There is no proven way to prevent breast cancer, so early detection, through mammography and clinical breast exams, and treatment are key to lowering the death rate.

For women aged 50-69, having regular mammograms can reduce the chance of death from breast cancer by one-third or more. Despite this success rate, nearly half of women age 50 and older have not had a mammogram in the past two years, while only 37 percent of women age 65 and older have a mammogram every two years.

The Clinton Administration has responded to the significant threat posed by breast cancer with increased efforts in research, prevention and treatment. HHS Secretary Shalala convened a conference in December 1993 to establish a National Action Plan on Breast Cancer and implementation of the plan is being carried out through a public, private and volunteer partnership led by HHS' Office of Women's Health. Total discretionary spending has increased from about $90 million in FY 1990 to an estimated $531 million in FY 1997.

On Oct. 1, 1996 Secretary Shalala announced the expansion of the CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program to all 50 states, with $102 million in federal funding for the upcoming year. The program provides screening services for low income and medically underserved women. Since its first year of operation in 12 states in 1991, this program has provided over a million screening tests.

In March 1996, the FDA issued proposed regulations to implement the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA), to ensure that mammography facilities meet high quality standards for equipment and personnel.

And the PHS Office of Women's Health has initiated an innovative partnership with the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense to transfer defense imaging technologies to improve early detection of breast cancer.

Educating consumers and health professionals is the cornerstone of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) program, which is entering its second decade of public and professional outreach efforts. Two HHS agencies, the CDC and the National Cancer Institute, are working with 15 other national organizations as co-sponsors of the 1996 October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In addition to National Mammography Day, activities, screenings, and media events will be held across the country throughout the month to improve breast cancer awareness.