Category: advocacy

Empowering Change: Breast Cancer Advocates Take to Capitol Hill

Three days of breast cancer research seminars and advocacy training, followed by 11 Congressional office visits, 2 Senate office visits, 16,848 steps, and 6.5 miles on Capitol Hill! This is what our fantastic group of Virginia breast cancer advocates, VBCF staff, and a Board member accomplished in Washington, DC, during the 2024 National Breast Cancer Coalition’s (NBCC) Advocate Leadership Summit and Lobby Day, May 4-7.

VBCF’s Take on the Drop in Breast Cancer Mortality

You may have seen the recent Washington Post article discussing how the death rate for breast cancer has dropped 58% since 1975. And that’s amazing! Back in 1975, mammograms were difficult to access and less accurate, surgery was intensely disfiguring and often involved the removal of chest muscle in addition to breast tissue, and chemotherapy…
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VBCF Advocates: Pushing for Breast Cancer Policy Changes in 2023

Get the lowdown on the 2023 NBCC Leadership Summit and Lobby Day! Find out how our VBCF advocates and Noss Scholarship recipients are making a difference in the world of breast cancer legislation.

The Future Of DIEP Flap: Ensuring Continued Access To Innovative Breast Reconstruction

VBCF joins the Community Breast Reconstruction Alliance (CBRA) to advocate for continued access to DIEP flap breast reconstruction amid insurance code changes, ensuring vital options for patients.

2023 General Assembly Update

Officials pictured: State Senator Frank Ruff; Delegate Ellen Campbell, wife of late Del. Ronnie Campbell; Delegate Shelly Simonds; Mrs. Collette McEachin, Richmond City Commonwealth Attorney, and wife of late Congressman McEachin. VBCF was invited to speak at the Virginia Cancer Caucus on January 20th. The meeting honored the late Congressman A. Donald McEachin and the…
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Victory for the Lymphedema Community: The Lymphedema Treatment Act is Now Federal Law

After 12 years of hard work by volunteer advocates and their partners, the Lymphedema Treatment Act (LTA) was finally passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden. This is a significant victory for the lymphedema community and a testament to the power of perseverance and advocacy. Lymphedema is a condition that can develop…
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Advocates Make An Impact

VBCF is grateful to our inspiring advocates who helped make a significant impact during the 2022 National Breast Cancer Coalition’s (NBCC) annual breast cancer Lobby Day on May 3, 2022.

2022 General Assembly Update

The VBCF-led diagnostic breast imaging coverage bill, HR 1243, was “tabled” by the House Commerce and Energy Committee, thus ending consideration for this General Assembly Session. While the details are complicated (dealing with prohibiting additions to Virginia’s essential health benefits package), our bill and a group of similar insurance benefits-related bills were found to be…
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A Marathon, Not a Sprint

“As someone with metastatic breast cancer, I know that this is a marathon, not a sprint. And, access to treatment is so important. Why should I have to wait up to 2 years for the benefits I already qualify for?” Anne, Virginia Advocate speaking about the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act VBCF volunteer…
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Collage of VBCF advocates

30 Years of Advocacy

One of VBCF’s first advocacy events was a Mothers’ Day Rally at the General Assembly to urge legislators to focus more funding on screening and treatment for breast cancer. Our advocacy work has never stopped. VBCF hosts an annual State Breast Cancer Advocacy Day and organizes volunteer advocates to participate in national breast cancer lobby day.

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month