In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, U.S. Senator Katie Britt is urging women across the United States to talk to their healthcare providers, get regular screenings, and set up a comprehensive treatment plan if necessary.

“As rates of breast cancer continue to rise in younger women, the importance of regular screening cannot be understated,” said Britt (R-Montgomery). “Early detection saves lives. I am also calling on Congress to make diagnostic testing more affordable and accessible by passing Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s and my Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act. Our bill would alleviate barriers to diagnostic testing.”

“I am committed to supporting cancer research, education, and prevention efforts, and I hope all Americans stand with me in that effort.”

According to Britt, in April of this year, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a final recommendation statement that all women should begin screening for breast cancer every other year beginning at age 40. Previously, the USPSTF recommended starting tests a decade later, but given the rise in invasive breast cancer among younger women, the agency updated its recommendation to increase the likelihood of early detection.

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The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama found that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, including an estimated 4,000 women in Alabama in 2024.

In 2024, The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be detected in women across the United States, with 16% of those diagnoses occurring in women under the age of 50. This comes as breast cancer rates continue to rise in younger women who generally experience delayed diagnoses resulting in later-stage tumors that are more difficult to treat.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten