Hughes and the PA Breast Cancer Coalition Promote Free Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment
Major Community Outreach Planned

PHILADELPHIA, PA, June 1, 2009 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Phila.) and the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition will host "You're Covered! A Day of Celebration and Information about FREE Breast Cancer Treatment" on Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Nezzie’s Custom Bras at the Park West Town Center, 51st St. & Columbia Ave., Philadelphia. This major community outreach event will promote the PA Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Program (BCCPT). The BCCPT was created by the state to provide under and uninsured women access to quality, life saving cancer treatment.

“I have been working closely with the PA Breast Cancer Coalition for several years to ensure that Pennsylvania women get the adequate care for breast and cervical cancer,” Hughes said. “It is important that we continue to fight the dire statistics and improve the lives of women living with cancer.”

In Pennsylvania:

• 25 women in Pennsylvania will be diagnosed with breast cancer today.
• Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Pennsylvania in women between the ages of 25 and 54.
• Approximately 9,000 women in Pennsylvania are diagnosed each year with breast cancer.
• Approximately 2,000 women in Pennsylvania die each year of breast cancer.
• There are approximately 103,000 women in Pennsylvania living with breast cancer.

“The statistics related to the impact on women as a result of breast cancer alone are dire enough,” Hughes said. “The fact that many women - and many health care providers - are not aware of this program makes the issue all the more critical.

“That is why I am compelled to champion this important program in partnership with Governor Rendell, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.”

Hughes added that as more and more Pennsylvanian women lose their jobs due to the economic difficulties gripping the entire nation they often lose access to quality healthcare.

“With loss of employment comes loss of insurance,” Hughes said. “We must actively advocate this resource to help save lives.”

For more information about “You’re Covered!” contact the office of State Senator Vincent Hughes at 215-879-7777. For more information about the free Breast & Cervical Cancer Treatment program, call the PA Department of Health’s Healthy Woman program at 1-800-215-7494.

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