Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Elizabeth Edwards and Other Breast Cancer Survivors and Activists Call for Political Action to End Disease

Des Moines Event Part of Nationwide Campaign Challenging U.S. to Close the Gaps in Breast Cancer Care, Survival

Des Moines, Iowa – August 16, 2007 – Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Elizabeth Edwards and Iowa policymakers gathered with hundreds of community members, breast cancer survivors and activists at the Iowa State Fair today. They called on political leaders and presidential candidates to elevate breast cancer as a national priority in the 2008 presidential campaign and increase funding for breast cancer screening programs for low-income and uninsured women.

“You have the unique opportunity in Iowa to ask the candidates questions about what they are going to do to eradicate breast cancer. Join this challenge and keep the pressure on all the candidates,” said Mrs. Edwards.

“There will be a day when we find the key to breast cancer. We need to increase research dollars. Organizations like Susan G. Komen for the Cure that are raising funds for breast cancer research are making all the difference in the world,” she added. 

Underinsured, low-income women die more often
In the United States, a woman has about a 13 percent risk – or one in eight – of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. Low-income women are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer and are three times more likely to die from the disease. Uninsured women are more likely to receive a late-stage breast cancer diagnosis and are 30 to 50 percent more likely to die from the disease than women with insurance.

“Our nation has been hard hit by breast cancer, and low-income women have been hit the hardest. We need to close the gaps in research, policy and access to quality care that make breast cancer deadlier for some women,” said breast cancer survivor Diane Balma, vice president of public policy at Komen for the Cure. “Breast cancer survivors in this country are millions strong. It’s time we band together and tell our leaders that our priorities should be their priorities.”

Closing the gap in access to quality health care, research and information
Today’s event was part of the Komen Community Challenge, a 25-city tour and powerful new grassroots campaign to reach tens of thousands through community rallies, town hall meetings and state lobby days, rallying people together to close the gaps in research, policy and access to quality care that make breast cancer deadlier for some women than for others. Komen for the Cure is marking its 25th anniversary year by ratcheting up the fight against breast cancer and taking its special brand of pink ribbon activism on the road.