The South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition was formed by a group of survivors concerned with the enormous social, medical and economic consequences of breast cancer.
Statistics... 98,000 men and women are living in New Jersey. In 2007 there will be 6,080
new cases of breast cancer diagnosed. New Jersey ranks 4th in the nation for occurrences and 2nd for deaths with 1480 in 2006.
The South Jersey Breast Cancer Plan of Action:
1. Provide information and education to individuals.
2. Increase public awareness through advocacy efforts lobbying for legislation.
3. Improve access to high quality breast cancer screening diagnosis, treatment and care for women in clinical trials who have this disease, through legislation and change in regulation.
4. Increase the involvement and influence of those living with breast cancer in the areas of legislation, regulatory process and all aspects of clinical designs.
Meetings
There will be no meetings the months of May and December 2008.
Instrumental in getting the following bills passed in Congress...
Appropriations Annual Bill for FY 08 AThe House and Senate Appropriations conferees approved $138 million in funding for the Departmen Of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. This is an increase of $10.5 million over last year 2007 appropriation.In 2007, President Bush signed the Reauthorization Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening which will provide for the Medicaid program to continue screening for low income or uninsured persons to be screened for those cancers.
Medicare Demonstration Program - Passed 2004 Oral anti cancer drugs will be covered in the program and Department of Defense (DoD) Breast Cancer research program allocated $150 million for breast cancer research.
Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act - Passed June, 2001 Allows low income, uninsured and underinsured women Medicare coverage for treatment they need, once diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer.
Medicare Clinical Trial coverage Act - Passed 2000 Establishes a guarantee that patients who are Medicare beneficiaries are covered for routine care costs when they enroll in clinical trials.
Lobbying efforts endorsed by SJBCC
Guaranteed access to quality healthcare for all, regardless of their ability to pay. We will continue to support Environmental Issues, Genetic Discrimination Issues and continued Breast Cancer Research. We will continue to fight for existing programs that our working in our state, such as the CEED (Cancer Education and Early Detection Program)
Breast Cancer and the Environment - It is generally believed that the environment plays a role in the development of breast cancer, but the extent of that role is not understood. Congress needs to enact legislation, which would provide grants for multi-disciplinary research centers to study the potential links between the environment and breast cancer.
Genetic Nondiscrimination Act - This would inhibit health insurers and employers from discriminating or denying coverage based on genetic information. We only endorse a bill that would include enforceable measures.
Fair Access to Clinical Trials - this would require clinical trails for serious and life threatening illnesses not only to be registered but to disseminate the outcome of the trial (good, bad or null)
The South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition is lobbying aggressively for legislation. Our mission is clear: to raise awareness of Breast Cancer through advocacy, action and change in political policy. Join us by completing our membership application - $20.00 annual membership.
Upcoming Events
Annual NBCC Breast Cancer Advocacy Conference
Join the SJBCC and hundreds of advocates from all over the United States for the Annual NBCC Advocacy Training Conference, "Beyon Ribbons to Revolution". This year's event will take place from April 26, 2008 to April 29, 2008 at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington DC. For three intensive days, advocates will learn about the latest information of breast cancer research, quality care and access, and the politics of health care. AThe conference will conclude with the advocates participationg in the Annual Lobby Day visiting their members of Congress and their staff. The culmination will be the NBCC's Annual Congressional Awards Reception. You can register for the conference by visiting NBCC website www.stopbreastcancer.org or call the Event Professionals at 1-866-640-0969. For more information about the conference or the bus for Lobby Day call SJBCC at 856-768-9028.
Carolyn J Ochs Scholarship Fund - Read her story here.
AJoin us as we Make Strides Against Breast Cancer on 10/21 at Cooper River at Pennsauken, NJ and on 10/28 in Ocean City, NJ. Strides is a non-competitive 5K walk that raises awareness of breast cancer while earning money for the American Cancer Society. Nothing can compare the camaraderie that we share as we walk in honor of those members on our teams that are survivors and in memory of those we have loved and lost, such as one of our founding members, Carolyn Ochs. Remember HOPE starts with you and me!
Client Assistance Fund
In April 2005, the SJBCC established a client assistance fund to assist people with financial needs that have incurred in relationship or arising from their breast cancer diagnosis. Since its inception we have awarded over $10,000.00 to person's for day care costs for their children, while receiving treatment, utility bills, gas cards for transportation to treatments. We do not pay for any medication or treatments. For a complete list of criteria,please call or office at 856-768-9028.
