Hartley to receive breast cancer awareness award

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State Sen. Joan Hartley (D-15) is being honored Saturday for her advocacy of breast cancer awareness in Hartford. FILE PHOTO
HARTFORD — State Sen. Joan Hartley (D-15) will be honored Saturday for her advocacy of breast cancer awareness and mandatory insurance coverage for comprehensive breast cancer screenings.

“I am a long-standing advocate for increased breast cancer awareness and enhanced screening options for women. As vice-chair of the Insurance Committee I’m proud of new laws we’ve enacted to that end,” Hartley said in a prepared release. “As a result, Connecticut has become a leader in breast cancer prevention policy, yet despite our success we keep learning more about how to provide early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.”

Hartley will be recognized by Are You Dense, Inc., a breast cancer information clearinghouse and advocacy organization, at its 3rd Annual Are You Dense MusicFest at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury. The music festival is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“In 2004 (Hartley) promised to address the issue of dense breast tissue and its inherent fatal flaw in the early detection of breast cancer and you did through legislation,” said Dr. Nancy Cappello, president and founder of Are You Dense, Inc, in a prepared release. “Without (Hartley’s) support the landmark laws passed in Connecticut would not have happened.”

This year, Hartley said, the state enacted a new law to provide insurance overage for additional screenings for women with heterogeneous or dense breast tissue. She added the bill provides MRI coverage if a woman is determined to be at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history or prior personal history.

“I’m honored to receive recognition from an organization created and completely dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness and improving healthy options for women,” Hartley said in the release.