Ayotte Backs Bill to Increase Breast Cancer Patient Education and Awareness

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte announced today that she is cosponsoring the Breast Cancer Patient Education Act of 2015 (S. 1192) to help ensure that breast cancer patients facing surgery are informed about all their care and treatment options. The bill, which was introduced by Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a public awareness campaign to inform breast cancer patients about the availability and coverage of breast reconstruction and other options such as prostheses.

"It's important that women with breast cancer have information about treatment options so they can make informed decisions about their health care," said Ayotte. "Our bipartisan bill will help improve breast cancer patients' knowledge of reconstructive procedures and other care options."

Earlier this year, Ayotte and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) reintroduced the Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act (S. 370), which would improve breast cancer detection by requiring mammogram reports to include whether a woman has dense tissue, so she can discuss with her doctor if she should seek additional screening. Dense breast tissue can sometimes obscure the presence of cancer, and there currently is no federal standard requiring women to be informed if they have dense tissue.

Source