To: The Oklahoma State House, The Oklahoma State Senate, and Governor Kevin Stitt
Lower the age for breast cancer screening
Our women and thousands of men are passing away from breast cancer at a very early age, which could have possibly been prevented. We can stand as one and say lower the age for breast cancer screening so I can have a chance at watching my kids graduate.
Why is this important?
On November 9, 2014, at 01:50 am my wife Kristen starts to breathe erratically. I woke up our daughters Abigail, age 6 and Katlyn, age 7. I explained to them the best I could through my tears that it is time to say goodbye to their mother. Abigail is crying and leans up and gives her mom a last kiss while whispering in her ear “I love you so much mommy.” Katlyn goes up to her mother and gives her mom a kiss as a tear falls from Kristen’s left eye. Katlyn is trying so hard to speak through her emotions, and finally says, “Mommy please don't go, I love you so much mommy.” All three of us watched heartbroken as Kristen takes her last breath.
Hello, my name is Joseph Jennings. In 2008, my wife delivered our second child. Two months later she discovered a lump in her breast. She is told by her doctor that since she is only 32-years-old that her medical insurance would not cover a mammogram and besides the lump is most likely related to her breastfeeding our child. She was later diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer and even after a radical mastectomy, given approximately 6 months left to live. After a heroic 5 ½ - year-long fight, she passed away in our home in November of 2014.
My family’s story is just one of many stories that needlessly end this way as American woman continue to die of breast cancer at an alarming rate. The Preventive Special Task Force is now pushing to increase the age for regular mammogram screenings from 40 years to 50 while also recommending that such screenings be performed every other year instead of bi-annually.
Our goal is to empower more women by lowering the age that insurance companies must pay for mammograms to 30-years-old. Young women who find themselves in a situation such as my wife, women who have a family history of breast cancer, or have no history because they are adopted deserve the right to choose such screenings when they feel they are necessary and to have their medical insurance company pay for them.
We are needlessly losing young mothers, wives, daughters, nieces, cousins, aunts, and friends to breast cancer. I am asking that you please stand with me in demanding that ALL women be empowered. That ALL women be given the choice to do what they believe is best for their health and not have their choices limited or dictated by their medical insurance providers. You can join our mission by signing the petition. I have also created a page on Facebook for all cancer patients where they can go and chat, make friends, and find support - the address for this petition is https://www.facebook.com/groups/kristenstruewillpower/.
For everyone without a Facebook account, I created a website that you can read all about Kristen's journey with breast cancer. You can find this page at http://www.kristenstruewillpower.com.
Each and every woman, no matter what her age, deserves to be empowered with every tool available to detect and beat breast cancer.
Thank you,
Joseph Jennings
Hello, my name is Joseph Jennings. In 2008, my wife delivered our second child. Two months later she discovered a lump in her breast. She is told by her doctor that since she is only 32-years-old that her medical insurance would not cover a mammogram and besides the lump is most likely related to her breastfeeding our child. She was later diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer and even after a radical mastectomy, given approximately 6 months left to live. After a heroic 5 ½ - year-long fight, she passed away in our home in November of 2014.
My family’s story is just one of many stories that needlessly end this way as American woman continue to die of breast cancer at an alarming rate. The Preventive Special Task Force is now pushing to increase the age for regular mammogram screenings from 40 years to 50 while also recommending that such screenings be performed every other year instead of bi-annually.
Our goal is to empower more women by lowering the age that insurance companies must pay for mammograms to 30-years-old. Young women who find themselves in a situation such as my wife, women who have a family history of breast cancer, or have no history because they are adopted deserve the right to choose such screenings when they feel they are necessary and to have their medical insurance company pay for them.
We are needlessly losing young mothers, wives, daughters, nieces, cousins, aunts, and friends to breast cancer. I am asking that you please stand with me in demanding that ALL women be empowered. That ALL women be given the choice to do what they believe is best for their health and not have their choices limited or dictated by their medical insurance providers. You can join our mission by signing the petition. I have also created a page on Facebook for all cancer patients where they can go and chat, make friends, and find support - the address for this petition is https://www.facebook.com/groups/kristenstruewillpower/.
For everyone without a Facebook account, I created a website that you can read all about Kristen's journey with breast cancer. You can find this page at http://www.kristenstruewillpower.com.
Each and every woman, no matter what her age, deserves to be empowered with every tool available to detect and beat breast cancer.
Thank you,
Joseph Jennings