Policy Archive
EARLY Act Brings Young Breast Cancer to Forefront
The Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act of 2009 (EARLY Act), HR 1740, was introduced by Representative Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), a breast cancer survivor who carries a BRCA2 mutation. FORCE participated in a coalition of groups providing guidance on the proposed legislation.
Passed as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March 2010, the EARLY Act authorized a nationwide awareness and support campaign for women age 45 and under, including high-risk women, breast cancer survivors, and their doctors. The law also includes broad-reaching public and healthcare professional education campaigns, prevention research, and additional support for young women diagnosed with breast cancer. Initially funded for five years, the EARLY Act Reauthorization of 2014 was passed on December 28, 2014.
Since that time, the initiative has brought about a number of programs including the CDC's Bring Your Brave Campaign and Program Support for Survivor Organizations—including the FORCE XRAY Program, among other activities.
News Briefs
8/14/2023 - Joined stakeholders in a letter to the American College of Physicians expressing disappointment with the preventive colorectal cancer screening guidance it published, which conflicts with recommendations provided by the USPSTF, NCCRT, ACS, NCCN and other reputable organizations.
7/21/2023 - Wrote House and Senate leadership, expressing support for increased funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in its staffing and administrative support of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) as part of the FY24 appropriations bill.
6/7/2023 - Joined physicians and patient advocacy groups to support California AB 632, which will allow patients to receive prostate cancer screening without a deductible, copayment, or coinsurance for prostate cancer screening, including men over the age of 40 who are at high risk for prostate cancer.
Related Resources
- BREAST CANCER EDUCATION: HHS Has Implemented Initiatives Aimed at Young Women
- Background on Breast Cancer, Rep. Wasserman Schultz's Story, and the EARLY Act
- Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women, established by the EARLY Act, this committee helps the CDC develop approaches to advance understanding and awareness of breast cancer among young women. FORCE is pleased to represent the hereditarycancer community on this advisory committee.