The first day of October often sees a shift in normal, everyday color schemes. Shades of pink begin showing up in many places not seen a day before. October means more pink, a color theme that reminds us that breast cancer awareness has been promoted since 1985.

Since that time, the General Assembly has passed a number of bills relating to breast cancer and breast cancer awareness. During the last session, one of the first bills to pass was Senate Bill 639 requiring mammography facilities to provide information to a patient explaining that dense breast tissue could hide abnormalities and patients with dense breast tissue might benefit from additional screening methods. As well, Senate Bill 668 requires insurers who offer benefits for cancer treatment offer oral medications at the same cost as intravenous medications.

The General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1105 in 2008, creating a check-off box on the Missouri individual and corporate income tax forms for contributions to the Breast Cancer Awareness Trust Fund, encouraging monetary donations for breast cancer services.

Passed in 2002, House Bill 1093 allows Missourians to receive a special breast cancer awareness license plate. Proceeds from these special plates go toward screening, treatment, and follow-up services.

In 1995, Senate Bill 27 modified certain policies, making changes to the limits on deductibles, lifetime maximum benefits, and administration of these benefits. The bill also made changes to state law regarding insurance coverage of mammograms. All individual and group health insurance policies are required to provide benefits or coverage for low-dose mammography screenings for any women covered under their policy. 

Cancer statistics are ever-changing. According to the American Cancer Society, about one in eight women in the U.S., or 12 percent, will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. They also expect that, in 2014, approximately 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed, about 62,570 women will be diagnosed with early, non-invasive cancer and some 40,000 will lose their fight with breast cancer.

There is some good news. After rising for almost two straight decades, breast cancer rates slowed and then began decreasing, dropping by 7 percent from 2002 to 2003. But breast cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer death, behind lung cancer. However, there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

I lost my mother, Loneta, to breast cancer in 1990. I know first-hand how devastating this disease can be. I also know there are many families living with breast cancer diagnosis right now. Remember that no one fights alone with this disease, or any other type of cancer. A wealth of support organizations are available. And as long as I am in the Missouri General Assembly, I will continue to fight for legislation that will affect breast cancer research, raise awareness and work to promote treatment and overall health for every Missourian.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.