Breast cancer is expected to cause 39,510 deaths in the U.S. in 2012, with over 200,000 new cases of breast cancer estimated for the year. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, which has invested nearly $2 billion in breast cancer research, awareness, education and health services since its start in 1982, details these specifics on its website. The rate of invasive breast cancer in Florida is 114 for every 100,000 women.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation decided on Feb. 3 to reverse a decision to cease most of its grants and funding to Planned Parenthood. The organization’s board decided to stop the funding in light of Florida Representative Cliff Stearns’ investigation into Planned Parenthood. Board members feared that continuing to support Planned Parenthood would damage the foundations credibility and donation intake. In a statement, the Komen foundation said the decision had been based on a policy not to fund organizations under investigation, but it would be revising the policy to apply only to organizations facing criminal investigation.
The Komen foundation been criticized for funneling more money into so-called “awareness” than into treatment and services to help those already plenty aware of breast cancer. About 13 percent of its $360 million in expenses for 2009-2010 went to treatment services.
After Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Arizona, said April 2011 that abortion services makes up 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does, the statistics started pouring out, showing that abortion services account for 3 percent of its services. Most of its services focus on contraception and STI/STD testing and treatment—35 percent and 34 percent respectively. Cancer screening and prevention accounts for 17 percent. Planned Parenthood provided 826,197 breast exams in 2008.
But the fact that the ability of Planned Parenthood to provide vital health services is left at least partially up to the whims of organizations like Susan G. Komen speaks to a larger problem. It’s not really Planned Parenthood that’s affected—it’s all the women who rely on Planned Parenthood to provide services they otherwise could not afford, putting poor or disadvantaged women—including college-aged women faced with rising tuition costs and steeped in student loan debt—in a perilous position.
College-aged women especially should pay attention to the decisions that affect organizations like Planned Parenthood, particularly those attending campuses like USF St. Petersburg that currently lack health services. Though health services are planned for the new Student Life Center after CAC construction is complete, many semesters worth of students have gone without. Planned Parenthood offers contraception and STD testing for men and women, cancer screening, HPV vaccinations, pap tests, breast exams, pregnancy testing, prenatal care, and primary care services that are affordable and accessible. They are two qualities that many may take for granted, but for the women—and men—who have come to rely on organizations like Planned Parenthood, it’s something for which to fight.
