Join Komen Champions for the Cure™, a grassroots advocacy program that educates Congress, federal officials, state legislators and other policy makers on critical breast cancer issues, from breast cancer research to early detection and quality care. Just register at www.ActNowEndBreastCancer.org and you will receive e-mail alerts on upcoming issues and directions on how to easily contact policy makers. 
 
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Public Policy in Arizona

More than 2,800 Arizona women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 600 will die this year alone. Due to gaps in research, public policy and access to quality care, a breast cancer diagnosis is much deadlier for the poor, those with little or no health insurance, and racial and ethnic minorities.

• The Well Woman Health Check program provides free mammograms and early detection services to uninsured and low-income women. Well Woman Health Check receives $2,236,262 from CDC through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. The state provides about $1.3 million in funding, and approximately $275,000 is funded through private organizations with Komen being the largest donor.
• To be eligible, a woman must be a resident, between 40 and 64, and her income must be between 100% and 250% of the poverty line.
• Senator Amanda Aguirre has increased funding for Well Women Check Program be establishing a special edition breast cancer license plate. It contributes $17 on every $25 registration fee.
• Arizona exercises a loophole in the Federal Treatment Act to deny Medicaid coverage to women with breast cancer based solely on where they were screened. Uninsured and underinsured women that are diagnosed through AZ BCCCP may receive treatment services through Medicaid while those screened outside of this program are not eligible for Medicaid funded treatment.

The Phoenix Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is calling attention to the disparity in early detection of breast cancer among women in Arizona. It is well documented that early detection can save women's lives. Unfortunately, right now at it's current funding level, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program only serves approximately 6% of the eligible women in Arizona - 235,000 women in Arizona who are uninsured or under-insured do not receive early detection services. The Phoenix Affiliate will continue it's effort to end breast cancer and close the gap for women of color, rural women and low-income women by advocating to increase access to early detection services for all women in Arizona.

Volunteer

Become a Komen Advocate in Science!

Individuals interested in becoming a Komen Advocates in Science (KAS) must complete an application form that includes a 1-page statement of interest and arrange to have a eltter of support submitted on their behalf.  Applications for involvement in science review meetings throughout 2008 and early 2009 will be available on the Komen National website (www.komen.org) under Grants or by contacting Komen at 800-GoKomen. Once selected, Komen Advocates in Science will have the opportunities to participate in research grant reviews throught the year.  Each advocate will be assigned to participate in at least one research review during the year.  The overall time commitment is estimated to be approximately 45 to 75 hours, which includes training, review of grant applications and participation in the actual peer review meeting or web conference.