By Vanity Delbridge, SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Governor Andrew Cuomo signs legislation, expanding mammogram medical coverage to women between the ages of 35 to 39.
Under the current law, insurance groups are only required to provide benefits to women over the age of 40.
Medical Oncology Nurse Manager, Allyson Remon, knows how this effects young women.
“You know, some of these women may not have had the opportunity to have these tests done, and then things would go un-diagnosed,” says Remon. “And when they would get diagnosed, they would be further along, and their outcomes would not be as good.”
The bill, “Shannon’s Law,” is named for Shannon Saturno of Babylon, Long Island.
Saturno was diagnosed with breast cancer at 28 years of age and passed away at 31.
According to the Young Survival Coalition, more than 1,000 women under the age of 40 die every year from breast cancer, and nearly 80 % of the women diagnosed find their breast abnormality themselves.
Nurse Remon is confident the new law will positively impact future patients.
“Just the certainty that they’re gonna have the preventive screening test done, to ensure that they are getting things caught early,” says Remon. “And that they’re having treatment for those diagnoses early, and that they’re gonna have long life for themselves and their families.”
Governor Cuomo’s Press Office reports, over 12,000 cases of breast cancer are detected annually in women under 40, and are oftentimes in later stages, and more aggressive forms of cancer.
