TO THE EDITOR:

A woman today has a lower risk of dying from breast cancer than at any time in decades. This remarkable progress has been made possible by increased use of mammography, which can detect tumors early, when they are smaller, easier to treat, and most important, survivable.

But while mammography rates increased from just 39 percent in 1987 to 70 percent in 2000, new data show a troubling trend: mammography rates declined by four percentage points between 2000 and 2004. This should concern us all, as these declining rates threaten to reverse the progress we've made.

As we approach National Mammography Day on Oct. 19, I urge all women 40 and older to get a mammogram this year and every year. Mammography is the most effective screening test for the early detection of breast cancer. Women can sign up to receive a free e-mail mammogram reminder from the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org/mammogramreminder to help remind them to schedule their test.

Mammograms can help save lives, but for many women, they are financially out of reach. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides mammograms to low-income, uninsured and underinsured women, but lack of funds limit the program to serving only one in five eligible women aged 50 to 64. The Society's sister advocacy organization, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM, is urging Congress to increase funding so that more eligible women can be served. For more information about this program or to get involved, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.acscan.org/makingstrides.

We want to continue making strides against breast cancer, but we can only realize our goals if we remain vigilant in the fight.

Maribeth Swenty Woodford
American Cancer Society Minnesota
Vice President