OP-ED: Think Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As we all prepare to welcome the upcoming holiday season, we must also recognize the importance of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This month was created with the intent of educating ourselves and others on breast cancer prevention, testing, and treatments. I want to encourage everyone to do so in an effort to keep their loved ones safe and informed when it comes to this devastating cancer.

In a 2022 study, the National Cancer Institute found that breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in the United States, with roughly 290,000 people each year being diagnosed and 44,000 dying. In 2018, nearly 12,000 Ohioans were diagnosed with breast cancer, and in 2019, 1,744 Ohioans died of breast cancer, according to the Ohio Department of Health. While this is extremely difficult to hear, death rates have declined as a result of advancements in early detection and treatment methods.

I want everyone to take the time to schedule a breast exam this month, especially if they have a history of breast cancer in their family. In Ohio, newer, more advanced technology is available to anyone who needs a 3-D mammogram. The General Assembly recently passed House Bill 371, which I co-sponsored, in an effort to give women the necessary preventative care they need. This bill, which went into effect last month, makes these advanced screenings more accessible by reducing insurance costs and allowing women to have additional screenings each year, should they need them.

Now, it is easier than ever to take the necessary steps to detect breast cancer at an early stage. As a woman, I understand the fear and hesitation of getting screened for breast cancer. However, detecting it early saves lives. We have to take action. We are luckier than most in that we have access to this life-saving care. 

For more information on scheduling a breast exam, click here.