Democratic Candidates Miss Key Health Issue in Debate

Candidates Are Ignoring the Fight Against Cancer

CLEVELAND, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Senators Hillary Clinton and
Barack Obama took the stage for a final debate before the March 4 primaries.
The candidates addressed many troubling matters important to the American
public but fell short on a critical health issue -- breast cancer. Breast
cancer is an issue identified by 62 percent of Americans as the key health
issue facing women today.
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"Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama gave us a wide-ranging and
informative discussion of issues important to all Americans," said Diane
Balma, head of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance. "But we are
disappointed that breast cancer, which takes the lives of almost 2,000 women
in Ohio each year, was not even mentioned during the debate. In fact, Ohio
ranks fourth in the nation for breast cancer mortality."
A recent nationwide survey commissioned by the Komen Advocacy Alliance
revealed voters' attitudes about health care, breast cancer and the 2008
election. More than 90 percent of voters want the federal government to pay
more attention to breast cancer research, screening and early detection and
access to quality care for all. A majority of voters (62 percent) believe
breast cancer is the most critical health problem facing women today. But only
one in 10 voters is aware of their preferred presidential candidate's position
on issues relating to breast cancer.
"Breast cancer, and cancer in general, is indicative of the barriers, gaps
and disparities inherent in the U.S. health care system," added Balma. "Women
without insurance, racial and ethnic minorities, and women in underserved
areas are less likely to receive the care they need and are more likely to die
from the disease. The candidates are missing a ripe opportunity to draw
distinctions between their health care policies and inform voters on how they
plan to end breast cancer and its disparities."
The Komen Advocacy Alliance has launched a special project, I Vote for the
Cure(TM), to educate voters and challenge the presidential candidates to make
breast cancer a national priority. I Vote for the Cure(TM) is challenging
candidates to address three achievable goals that will save lives and help end
breast cancer forever: increasing investment in translational research,
improving access to screening, and ensuring quality treatment for all women.
For more information, visit http://www.IVotefortheCure.org.
About the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would
do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982 that promise
became Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and since then the organization has been
at the forefront of a global fight against breast cancer. Through the newly
formed Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance, a tax-exempt, 501c4
nonpartisan organization, Komen for the Cure is taking the next logical next
step in its evolution: expanding its reach in the health policies arena. With
the freedom to actively lobby for life-saving breast cancer public policy
change, the Komen Advocacy Alliance will directly engage policymakers and
opinion leaders to advocate for increased funding for breast cancer research
and greater access to screening and treatment.
SOURCE Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance

Julie Bernstein of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, cell, +1-240-601-5562,
jbernstein@komen.org