Dear Editor,
On Jan. 1, the Every Woman Counts program, which provides mammograms to 350,000 underserved women in California each year, closed its doors and will not start screening women again until July. When the program reopens, women under the age 50 will not be served. Why?
To save a few bucks, just one half of one percent... which will have little impact on the state's massive budget deficit.
For the women of this state it could mean the difference between life and death. We already know that screening saves lives. When breast cancer is detected early, the five year survival rate is 98 percent.
This is just the beginning. The governor has announced the likelihood of even more cuts to the state's screening program...THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. Our elected leaders face a tough economic situation, I get it, but balancing the budget shouldn't come at the cost of risking lives.
Why are we turning the backs on women in our state when they need us most? EVERY Woman DOES count!
On Jan. 1, the Every Woman Counts program, which provides mammograms to 350,000 underserved women in California each year, closed its doors and will not start screening women again until July. When the program reopens, women under the age 50 will not be served. Why?
To save a few bucks, just one half of one percent... which will have little impact on the state's massive budget deficit.
For the women of this state it could mean the difference between life and death. We already know that screening saves lives. When breast cancer is detected early, the five year survival rate is 98 percent.
This is just the beginning. The governor has announced the likelihood of even more cuts to the state's screening program...THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. Our elected leaders face a tough economic situation, I get it, but balancing the budget shouldn't come at the cost of risking lives.
Why are we turning the backs on women in our state when they need us most? EVERY Woman DOES count!
— Carmen Trammell
