Mar 30, 2009 5:51 pm US/Eastern
Congresswoman Brings Cancer Fight To South Florida
Watch Shannon Hori's interview with the Congresswoman on Tuesday night.
Click Here for Wasserman Schultz's statement on the EARLY Act
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz talks about the importance of the EARLY Act at Memorial Regional South hospital in Pembroke Pines.
CBS
Nearly a week after U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced new legislation that would create an education campaign to inform young women about the risk of breast cancer, the congresswoman is back home in South Florida to discuss her goal of getting federal funds for the South Florida Breast Cancer Center.
Wasserman Schultz stopped by the center, located at Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, Monday morning to talk about her legislation, The EARLY Act (H.R 1740) and how important it was for women under the age of 40 to be checked regularly for breast cancer.
"Young women and their doctors should be aware of the dangers particularly for certain groups of women who are more likely to carry genes, as I do, that raise their chances of developing breast cancer," said Wasserman Schultz.
During a news conference last week to announce the EARLY Act bill, the congresswoman revealed her year long battle with breast cancer.
"I am living proof, thank god, living proof that early detection is the key to survival," said Wasserman Schultz.
After undergoing several surgeries and a double mastectomy Wasserman Schultz, who was given a clean bill, turned her attention to educating women about the disease and the risks.
Click Here to read Wasserman Schultz's statement on the EARLY Act.
Wasserman Schultz said one of her goals to get additional funds to expand the role of Memorial Regional Hospital's Womens Imaging Centers Mobile Mammography Van, which conducts mammograms and other early screening tests for uninsured and underserved women.
"Reaching women is early is vital in the battle against breast cancer and the work that Memorial Regional performs through the mobile mammography van is literally life saving," said Wasserman Schultz.
The MHS Breast Services Initiative would allow for the expansion of services from Memorial Regional Hospital to other locations and would allow Memorial Regional Hospital South to provide comprehensive screening, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment to more women in South Broward.
According to statistics 75 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer last year had no family history of the disease.
CBS4's John Maclauchlan contributed to this report
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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