Cancer Survivors, Medical Pros, Cancer Awareness Groups Join

Legislator Mejias to Rally for Women's Health

FUNDING CUT – VITAL SERVICES IN JEAPORDY

Nassau County Legislator Dave Mejias, Chairman of the Legislature’s Health and Social Services Committee and Nassau County Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro, joined women who survived cancer, leading medical professionals and representatives of county-wide ovarian and breast cancer awareness groups to rally for women’s health. While the US Congress has recognized September as ovarian cancer awareness month and October as breast cancer awareness month, cuts to these organizations have been drastic at the state and federal levels. The downturn in the economy has forced reducing the funding of these groups to levels not seen since the recession of the 1980’s.

Ovarian Cancer claims the lives of over 22,000 women each year, this year alone over 15,000 women will be diagnosed with this deadly disease. Every 3 minutes a woman in the United States learns she has breast cancer. Over 40,000 women die from breast cancer each year and nearly 2000 men as well.

“Nearly 20 years ago, many of these same groups were right here in Mineola fighting for funding,” said Legislator Mejias. “Cancer does not wait for funding to be restored. While it continues to destroy a woman’s body, the need for treatment and medications does not wait.”

Nassau County Legislator Dave Mejias (D-Farmingdale), center, led a rally for women's health,

acknowledging September as ovarian cancer awareness month and October as breast cancer awareness month.

He was joined by the Nassau County Legislature's Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro (D-Glen Cove), to his right, and

Legislator Judi Bosworth (D-Great Neck), to his left, leading medical professionals, and representatives of county-wide ovarian and

breast cancer awareness groups, and cancer survivors. Even though ovarian cancer claims the lives of over 22,000 women each year, and over 40,000 women die from breast cancer each year, the downturn in the economy has forced reducing the funding to fight women's cancer.