When University junior Hilary Elgin found out her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was a sophomore in high school and had no idea what a financial impact the disease could have on a family.
Elgin’s family’s insurance didn’t have any breast cancer coverage, and without insurance one round of chemotherapy can cost more than $15,000. Fortunately for Elgin’s family, her mother was able to get insurance to access the necessary treatment.
“My mom would have gone to treatment regardless of if she had insurance coverage or not,” Elgin said. “We had to use the savings from my brother and I’s college funds even with the insurance help. I don’t know what we would have done without the extra help; I probably would have had to postpone going to college for a few years.”
Senate Bills 891 and 892 would force fewer women to choose between cancer prevention and treatment and paying bills. SB 892 would increase the number of women who are able to access free breast cancer and cervical cancer screening through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention services from 14,000 women to 22,000 annually.
SB 891 would allow women to receive treatment through the BCCP regardless of whether or not they used a BCCP doctor during their initial screening and diagnostic services. Currently, Oregon women must have their screening test paid for in part by BCCP to receive treatment assistance through the BCCP program.

“If a woman pays for the screening out of her own pocket and is diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, she is ineligible to get any financial assistance from the state’s BCCP program even if she meets age and income requirements,” said Joy Margheim, policy analyst for the Oregon Center for Public Policy.
Elgin is concerned that the state doesn’t realize the severe toll cancer takes on a family’s morale. She said it affects more than just a family’s pocketbook: It changes the way family members live their lives.
“I have a younger brother and we used to fight a lot, but when my mom was going through chemotherapy our household dynamics changed. The entire house was quiet,” she said. “I remember going to the hospital and watching my mom being injected with hot pink fluid and thinking this is real. It is too bad that some families have to focus on what treatment costs.”
Oregon’s screening program is part of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which is overseen and funded at the national level by the Centers for Disease Control. However, the federal funds cover only a small portion of eligible women, so states are required to provide $1 for every $3 of federal money.
Despite overwhelming legislative support, Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson said the bill may face harsh criticism when it gets to the Ways and Means Committee.
“Oregon’s current policy is unfair and illogical, but during difficult financial times, it is hard to pass bills that will cost the state money,” she said.
Elgin recognizes the importance of early screening for women and said it may have saved her mom’s life.
“My mom was lucky we caught her cancer in stage 1. Only 10 percent of her lymph nodes had been affected,” she said. “If she wouldn’t have been screened, we would never have known she was sick.”
Elgin’s mother is now in remission, but the memory of her diagnosis and treatment is still vivid. Elgin works with the American Cancer Association and is helping plan the 2009 Relay for Life, which will take place on campus May 9.
“My mom was my role model, my hero. It was so strange to watch her need help,” Elgin said. “I don’t know what got her through. She didn’t ever complain or talk to me about it. The only thing I can think of that helped her get through it was her family.”
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