-Annie Fox Act named after district resident-

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) today introduced the Annie Fox Act, legislation to fund greater breast cancer research for women under the age of 40-years old.  For women between the ages of 15 and 40, breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer related death, and one of the leading causes of death in women of all ages.

“Breast cancer is an issue, which threatens women of all ages, regardless of race, class or geographical location,” Woolsey said.  “None of us are safe from its wrath, and millions of brave women, and their families, have fought it.”

The bill would fund research through the National Institute of Environmental Health and Science, where doctors would be able to explore the causes of breast cancer in younger women, investigate the effects that current treatments have on the long term health of women, and determine what diagnostic procedures can be used to screen for the disease.  If passed, the NIEHS would also receive funding for increased outreach to help raise awareness of the disease among younger women.

“Over the past few years we have seen a growth in our knowledge and understanding of breast cancer, and we are now closer than ever to finding an effective and safe cure,” said Woolsey.  “Unfortunately, much remains unknown about how cancer affects younger women, particularly those under the age of 40.  Young women face many issues that their older counterparts do not such as pregnancy after diagnosis, more advanced cancer at diagnosis, and higher mortality rates because young women’s cancer are generally more aggressive.  This legislation would increase the funding for research into how breast cancer affects these women, helping doctors understand the cancer, and helping women survive it.”

The Annie Fox Act is named in honor of a young woman from San Rafael who died of breast cancer at the age of 35.  Fox was a tireless advocate of early detection within her community, and was a board member of what is now Marin’s Zero Breast Cancer group.