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Congresswoman Kathy Castor will bring her efforts to eliminate disparities in breast cancer treatment to the White House today when she joins First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden at an event to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The event will focus attention on the importance of health care for women, an issue Castor has highlighted in her work on the overall health insurance reform legislation moving its way through Congress, as well as in her Eliminating Disparities in Breast Cancer Treatment Act of 2009.

“I am honored to attend this important event at the White House today,” Castor said. “The First Lady and Dr. Biden truly understand the importance of quality, affordable health care for all Americans. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a perfect opportunity to emphasize that as we work to reform health insurance in our country, we must pay attention to women’s health issues and disparities in treatment for minority women in particular.”

Castor’s bill will create incentives and requirements for adequate care for all women, regardless of race, income or health insurance status. Castor discussed the bill in May at the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center in St. Petersburg, where she was joined with breast cancer survivors and health care advocates. This month, the bill was the subject of a hearing in the Subcommittee on Health, and now enjoys the support of 35 co-sponsors.

Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of death from cancer among American women, and African-American and Hispanic women are disproportionately affected. African-American women are about twice as likely to be diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer as white women. Hispanic women are 1.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society has found that Hispanic women are about 20 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Hispanic women.

The disparity is linked in large part to the lack of early detection. In addition, African-American women are less likely to receive a screening to see if their cancer has spread to underarm lymph nodes. This screening is critical in preventing the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. Furthermore, sometimes there are delays in treatment after a diagnosis.

Castor’s bill is designed to standardize health care practices for breast cancer patients and to eliminate inequities in treatment. The bill requires providers – doctors, hospitals – to report their practices and ensures that doctors aren’t compensated for inadequate care.

“Breast cancer continues to touch the lives of too many women and their families,” Castor said. “All women, regardless of their health insurance status, race, income or educational background, should have the access to the best treatment and care available. Closing these gaps is the key to defeating breast cancer.”