Representative Lawson supports legislative efforts to fight cervical cancer

INDIANAPOLIS – State Representative Linda Lawson (D-Hammond) said today she is supporting legislation authored by State Rep. Sharon Negele (R-Attica) and State Rep. Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville) that aims to reduce cervical cancer among Hoosiers.

“There is no way in a million years I couldn’t support this legislation,” said Lawson, “Cervical cancer is a killer of women, but if there is early diagnosis, it can be cured.”

House Bill 1278 will require the Indiana State Health Department to create a plan to help decrease the mortality rate of people with cervical cancer. This plan will include identifying barriers to cervical cancer, and improving access to screenings, preventions and treatments.

The ISHD also will be tasked with developing private and public partnerships to increase the awareness of cervical cancer.

There are around 250 new cases of cervical cancer each year. Out of those cases, 86 result in death. The cervical cancer mortality rate has remained stagnant in Indiana from 1998-2011 at more than 2.6 percent.

This bill hits close to home for Lawson, whose sister who died of ovarian cancer.

“It is hard to diagnosis and has a high death rate of 4 to 5 years, but if it is diagnosed and treated early, there is a survival rate of close to 95 percent,” said Lawson.
That is why Lawson is pushing for women to go visit their doctor and get the necessary tests.

“I think there are many reasons why women don’t go to the doctor,” Lawson said. “Maybe it’s because they can’t afford it, or there might be some shame involved with going to the doctor, or maybe they just don’t want to be asked such personal questions. What we hope to do through this proposal is help people overlook their concerns, because testing is a proven life saver.”