The recent debate and discussion over health care has significantly increased awareness about issues facing our current health care system. While there has been a great deal of disagreement on what reforms should be enacted, one area that everyone has embraced is the need for expanded educational awareness and preventative treatment. Taking the necessary steps to diagnose and treat patients early can cut down on hospital visits and improve the health of our communities and nation.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and many organizations and groups are working together to increase the public’s awareness and knowledge of breast cancer. In fact, the National Football League (NFL) has done a magnificent job bringing attention to this cause through their month-long campaign by painting pink ribbons on the football field and promoting the addition of pink on the uniforms and apparel of players, coaches and fans.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most-common form of cancer in women today and we are losing far too many of our mothers, wives, daughters and friends to this disease. I have lost two close friends and colleagues to breast cancer, and my sister-in-law is currently in remission only because of aggressive and preventative care she received early on after her prognosis. Preventative healthcare is especially critical for diseases in which early detection can mean the difference between life and death. However, far too many women do not take advantage of these options to help catch and treat breast cancer as early as possible. Research has shown that many women are not taking the first and easiest step of the fight against breast cancer. However, since the Breast Cancer Awareness Month effort began in 1985, breast cancer deaths have declined and mammography rates have increased, helping more and more women to overcome this obstacle.

In 2007, the Texas legislature approved $5.2 million to support the Texas Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection and Prevention (BCCEDP) program. This program helped screen nearly 26,000 uninsured and low income women, including 600 of whom were treated for cancer. Despite hard economic times, this funding was continued in 2009 because of the significant impact it had to help diagnose and treat women who otherwise may not have known they had the disease. Furthermore, the 81st Texas Legislature passed House Bill 4586 which immediately increased funding for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute to help them continue researching and educating the public on the effects of cancer. In fact, in a recent report by the institute titled, “The Cost of Cancer in Texas, 2007,” they determined that the direct, indirect and medical costs of cancer costs Texas $21.9 billion. I have met with many healthcare experts and professionals in the field who are fighting the battle against breast cancer each day, and together we will continue working to beat this disease.

We are fortunate in Williamson County to have several wonderful healthcare providers to help women diagnose and treat breast cancer. According to the Austin Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s 2009 community profile, 900 area women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, but with your help and action we can ensure that all of those women become cancer survivors. Having just recently completed my Wellness Exam, I encourage others to take active steps to allow for early detection so that we can work towards our goal of beating breast cancer.

If you are worried about developing breast cancer, or if you know someone who has been diagnosed with the disease, one way to deal with your concerns is to get as much information as possible. For more information about National Breast Cancer Awareness month, please visit www.nbcam.org. For additional information, please call the American Cancer Society toll free at 1-800-227-2345 or talk to your family doctor.