Congressional event to raise awareness about young women’s breast cancer risks

Sep 3 2009

NeoMatrix, makers of the HALO™ Breast Pap Test, is a sponsor of a congressional reception Sept. 9 on Capitol Hill, which will focus on the EARLY Act and raising awareness about young women’s breast cancer risk.

Among the speakers at the event will be Gail Lebovic, M.D., president of the American Society of Breast Disease and a proponent of the HALO Breast Pap Test, and Kathryn Tunstall, former chairman of the board of NeoMatrix and herself a breast cancer survivor.

The event is organized by the Tigerlily Foundation, a nonprofit organization with the mission of advocating for young women affected by breast cancer. Tigerlily was founded by Maimah Karmo, a young breast cancer survivor who has appeared on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” to highlight the need to do more about breast cancer in young women.

“NeoMatrix has aligned with Tigerlily and thousands of others in the breast cancer community to support the EARLY Act, and we are proud to be a sponsor of this important event,” said CEO John Stroh. “We are helping to deliver the message that there are new tools like HALO available for women to learn more about their breast cancer risk -- and that women identified as high risk, working with their physicians, now have proven ways to reduce their risk of a life-threatening battle with breast cancer.”

The Tigerlily Foundation event will be held Sept. 9 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Room B-338 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The event is free but attendees are asked to pre-register at www.tigerlilyfoundation.org/events.html. In addition to NeoMatrix, among other sponsors is the Gannett Foundation.

The EARLY Act would implement a national education campaign about the risks that young adult women (under 45) face from breast cancer. The bill, with $9 million per year in proposed funding for five years, would also provide assistance to young women who have the disease.

Nationally, 20% of breast cancers are diagnosed in women under age 50 – more than the total number of cervical and ovarian cancers combined. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in American women ages 15-54.

The EARLY Act has generated widespread support both in Congress and from national organizations, including the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Breast Cancer Network of Strength (formerly Y-Me). The legislation has more than 365 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and more than 30 in the Senate.

Keynote speaker at the Sept. 9 event will be Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), sponsor of the EARLY Act and a breast cancer survivor. Honorary Congressional co-chairs are Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and Roland Burris (D-Ill.), and Reps. Candice Miller (R-Mich.) and Ed Campos (D-Ariz.) Among speakers will be Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.).

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