Long Island has had one of the highest breast cancer rates in the State of New York. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran recently joined Nassau County Commissioner of Health Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein, Nassau University Medical Center Board Chairman George Tsunis, Nassau University Medical Center acting-president and CEO Dr. Paul Pipia, former-United States Senator Alfonse D’Amato and breast cancer survivors to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month and announce breast cancer statistics.
At the press conference, a 3-D Breast Cancer Detection Vehicle was dedicated to pioneer and advocate Geri Barish, president and founder of the 1 in 9 Long Island Breast Cancer Coalition and Executive Director of Nassau County’s Hewlett House. The vehicle will now be deployed to hundreds of Long Island communities offering the latest technology in breast cancer detection.
“I’m proud to stand with you all this morning as we bring attention to early detection during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and honor Geri Barish for her tireless efforts on behalf of Nassau County and our residents battling this disease,” said County Executive Curran. “Today, we continue our Breast Cancer Awareness efforts with NUMC’s 3D Mammography Mobile Breast Cancer Facility, which travels to our communities taking away one more barrier to screenings.”
In 2018, an estimated 266,120 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,960 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. Proven to find cancers earlier, the 3D mammogram oftentimes cuts the number of call backs for the patients because it is more efficient at the way its imaging program works.
“Until there is a cure, the best weapon is still regular screening, early detection and timely treatment,” said Curran.
