Gov. Edwards Issues a Statement on More than 130,000 Women Receiving Breast Cancer Screenings Thanks to Medicaid Expansion

BATON ROUGE, La. —  Immediately, Gov. John Bel Edwards and Louisiana Division of Well being Secretary Dr. Courtney N. Phillips issued a press release on Nationwide Breast Most cancers Consciousness Month and the continued life-saving impacts of Medicaid growth. 

“Each October, we rededicate ourselves to elevating consciousness in regards to the influence of breast most cancers in our state and the life-saving significance of early detection,” Gov. Edwards stated. “We stand with those that are preventing in opposition to this horrible illness and bear in mind the family members who’ve tragically misplaced their lives. Fortunately, we additionally know when caught early the five-year survival fee is sort of 99 p.c. Due to Medicaid growth, greater than 130,000 ladies in our state have acquired breast most cancers screenings and diagnostic breast imaging. In consequence, greater than 1,800 have been identified.”

“Louisiana has one of many highest mortality charges as a consequence of breast most cancers, underscoring the necessity for all of us to remain targeted on early detection,” stated Dr. Phillips. “We’re all busy, particularly this time of yr, and we all know many ladies might have missed their routine well being screenings through the pandemic. So, think about this your pleasant reminder. Common mammograms save lives. Make a plan at the moment to get screened.”

In accordance with the Louisiana Most cancers Prevention and Management Applications, breast most cancers is essentially the most regularly identified most cancers amongst ladies in Louisiana and is the second main explanation for most cancers deaths.

The Facilities for Illness Prevention and Management (CDC) experiences that the mortality fee for breast most cancers in United States is nineteen.4 per 100,000 ladies. In Louisiana, the mortality fee is 21.9 per 100,000 ladies.

The American Most cancers Society recommends that ladies age 45 to 54 ought to get mammograms yearly, whereas these 55 and older can change to each 2 years or proceed yearly screenings. Girls at larger threat of breast most cancers ought to begin getting mammograms earlier than age 45. To assist decrease your threat of breast most cancers, you must preserve a wholesome weight, keep energetic and decrease alcohol consumption.

For extra data on breast most cancers, you’ll be able to go to the CDC web site.

Increasing Medicaid was Gov. Edwards’ first official act as governor on January 12, 2016. Immediately, greater than 747,000 of Louisiana’s working poor have entry to well being care, together with mammograms and different preventative well being screenings, psychological well being sources, and substance abuse providers. To be taught extra in regards to the influence of Medicaid growth in Louisiana, go to the Wholesome Louisiana Dashboard.