Senator Phillips Announces $37.7 Million In Funding For Increased Breast Cancer Screenings

Senator Elaine Phillips today announced that hospitals across New York State, including three in the 7th Senate District, have been awarded $37.7 million to improve access to breast cancer screenings. The funding, which is part of the "Get Screened, No Excuses" initiative, was awarded to North Shore University Hospital, NYU Winthrop Hospital and Northwell Health Breast Cancer Center at Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

“Increased access to breast cancer screenings will ensure women get tested early and often, which will ultimately save lives,” Senator Elaine Phillips said. “This funding will increase early detection, expand mammograms and will continue to help more women get screened regardless of the many obstacles they face. Increased screenings will also allow women to detect a disease early that too often is found in the later stages.”

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in New York State. Each year, more than 15,000 women in New York State are newly diagnosed with breast cancer, and approximately 2,500 die from the disease. Screening for breast cancer can increase the likelihood of identifying cancer at an early stage when treatment is most successful.