Governor Matt Blunt, Missouri Affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure celebrate new funding for breast cancer screening

Governor signs bill supported by Komen providing $500,000 in new funding for breast cancer early detection for low-income and uninsured women

JEFFERSON CITY – Governor Matt Blunt yesterday signed budget legislation to expand the Show Me Healthy Women program which provides free breast cancer screening services to low-income and uninsured Missouri women. The additional $500,000 funding increase will allow approximately 2,000 new women to receive lifesaving mammograms and other early detection services. The Missouri Affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, worked with Governor Blunt, First Lady Melanie Blunt and the Missouri legislature throughout the year to support additional funding for Show Me Healthy Women.

“On behalf of women and families throughout Missouri impacted by breast cancer, we thank Governor Blunt and the legislature,” said Kim Carlos, survivor and advocate of the Greater Kansas City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “This funding will save the lives of low-income and uninsured women in our state.”

Women can find out if they are eligible and how to get breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment at the program website (http://www.dhss.mo.gov/BreastCervCancer/Eligibility.html) or by calling (573) 522-2845. In 2007, over 3700 women in Missouri will be diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 900 will die from the disease.

“When it comes to breast cancer, early detection is the key to survival. When breast cancer is diagnosed early, the survival rate is over 95 percent. Early detection means finding the cancer before you see the symptoms. But unfortunately, for many women who are uninsured, regular screening is not a realistic option,” said Mid-Missouri Affiliate breast cancer advocate and survivor Diana Ash. “By expanding the Show Me Healthy Women Program, 2,000 more women will have a shot at early detection.

To be eligible, a woman must be uninsured and between the ages of 50 and 65 for mammograms and breast exams, and between 35 and 65 for pelvic exams and Pap tests. On a case-by-case basis, younger, symptomatic women who meet the financial and insurance guidelines can be screened.

“As a survivor, I know just how critical early detection is. Timely breast cancer screening has already saved the lives of countless Missouri women. By providing this increased funding, Gov. Blunt will be giving thousands of women in our state a chance to survive the disease. We thank him for taking this giant leap forward on behalf of women’s health,” said Lisa Harp, a 4-year breast cancer survivor and advocate of the St. Louis Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.