Councilmember Presses for Annual Mammograms

Brigid LaBonge, the Councilmember's wife, discusses her battle with breast cancer at a press conference promoting annual screenings for women age 40 and over.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge, USC oncologist Dr. Christy Russell and City Controller Wendy Greuel voiced their opposition to new federal guidelines on breast cancer screening at a press conference on the 1st Street steps of City Hall this morning.
The new guidelines, released by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), recommend cancer screenings every two years beginning at age 50 for women at average risk of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society (ACS), however, recommends annual mammograms for women aged 40 and over. Councilmember LaBonge, chair of the City Council’s Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee, is calling for the city to review the new guidelines and report on the impact that the new guidelines could have on the health of women in Los Angeles.
This issue is very close to the Councilmember’s heart because his wife Brigid, a breast cancer survivor, learned of the illness through a mammogram when she was in her 40s.
“A mammogram saved my wife Brigid, the mother of my children,” Councilmember LaBonge said. “It is absolutely imperative that women get annual screenings.”
Dr. Russell, oncologist at USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital, said that studies consistently show that mammograms reduce cancer deaths among 40- to 50-year-old women by 15%. “Mammograms are the only screening tests that prevent deaths from breast cancer,” Dr. Russell said. “The cost to California will be much greater to treat women with advanced cancer than to screen them and find cancer in its pre-invasive stage.”
Brigid LaBonge recounted her story. At age 43, she was told she did not need a mammogram until age 45. Her gut instinct told her to request a mammogram the following year, regardless. The mammogram detected stage 3 breast cancer.
"I think about the pain that my family could have avoided if I had been given a mammogram when I was 43," she said.
Controller Greuel commended Councilmember LaBonge for raising the issue: "The facts are clear, the more women who get mammograms at a younger age, the fewer deaths there are from breast cancer. Regardless of the recommendations from the federal Preventive Services Task Force, it is critical for all women over the age of 40 to get annual mammograms."
Added Kellie Hawkins, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women: "Far too many women are suffering from breast cancer and we want to encourage women to continue following the current guidelines while working with their doctors to evaluate what is best for them."

Also on hand at the press conference were Brigid LaBonge, Added Kellie Hawkins, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women.