October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we pause to honor the lives lost each year to this disease and continue to support early detection programs and services. Mammograms have been a proven, time-tested tool physicians can use to help save lives. A diagnosis of cancer places tremendous strains on any family, a fact that many of us, unfortunately, know all too well. Early detection is the best weapon we have in the fight against cancer, and I strongly encourage all women to get an annual mammogram and regular screenings.

Close to 95 percent of all mammograms will be negative, and for the rest, early detection is the key to successfully surviving the disease. That’s why it’s so important to encourage a loved one to schedule a mammogram today.

In conjunction with Liz’s Day, I will be once again holding a mammogram screening on Saturday, September 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the parking area next to the Floral Park Recreation Center. This screening is open to women over 40 years of age that have not had a mammogram in the last year, as well as women who are asymptomatic. Even without cancer-like symptoms, it is important for women concerned about their health to get a regular exam. I’m proud to have Nassau University Medical Center join me to kick off Liz’s Day by offering screenings, information from specialists and important steps you can take for the early detection of breast cancer.

Liz’s Day, which will be held on September 29 at the Floral Park Recreation Center, is named for Elizabeth McFarland, who lost her battle with breast cancer. To date, Liz’s Day has raised over $500,000 for cancer research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Please join me on September 29 in honoring those women who have courageously lost the battle with breast cancer in the past as we continue the fight to find a cure. I ask everyone to urge their mother, daughter, sister or loved one to take a break from their busy schedules to get a screening and tell others about the lifesaving potential of mammograms.

Please note, this service is recommended to those without insurance. Those with insurance will have their provider billed and a co-payment will be issued. For more information on the mammogram screening, Liz’s Day, or any other state issue, please contact my district office at 437-5577 or email rae@assembly.state.ny.us.