“Alarmed and Saddened” by Komen Foundation Succumbing to Political Pressure, Planned Parenthood Launches Fund for Breast Cancer Services

DENVER – Planned Parenthood Federation of America today expressed deep disappointment in response to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation’s decision to stop funding breast cancer prevention, screenings, and education at Planned Parenthood health centers around the country. Anti-women’s health groups have repeatedly targeted and boycotted the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation for partnering with Planned Parenthood to provide these lifesaving cancer screenings and news articles suggest that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation ultimately succumbed to these pressures.

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is fortunate to have a strong relationship with the Denver Komen affiliate. “It is our understanding that because of PPRM’s high success rate, detecting 19 percent of the total cancers with just 4.3 percent of Denver’s Komen’s total funding, an exemption was made which means our grant for the upcoming cycle will still be considered,” said Vicki Cowart, president and CEO of PPRM.

Denver Komen’s grant applies to Planned Parenthood’s Greeley, Aurora, and Fort Collins health centers. These health centers serve as a point of entry for medically underserved women into the health care system of eastern Denver, and Larimer and Weld Counties. Last year, 84 percent of our patients at these three health centers had no applicable form of insurance; with 62 percent of these patients living at or below 150 percent of the federally-defined poverty level.

“In our Denver centers last year, we performed 682 clinical breast exams and facilitated the continuum of care for women to undergo further diagnostic screenings such as mammograms and biopsies,” said Cowart.

Planned Parenthood's quality, accessibility and affordability make it a leader in identifying breast cancer early when there is the best chance of successful treatment. Nationwide, Planned Parenthood doctors and nurses provide nearly 750,000 breast cancer screenings annually, offering risk assessments, breast exams, breast health information and education, and diagnostic and surgical referrals.

"Women of all economic levels need breast health screenings, referrals, and education, which is why we must work together as a community to ensure that low-income women who have no other place to turn have access to essential breast health care. As a donor and community advocate, I support both the Denver Komen and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains," said Dottie Lamm, former First Lady of Colorado.

For years, opponents of women’s health have waged an aggressive pressure campaign aimed at the Susan G. Komen Foundation at the expense of women’s health and lives.

PPRM will remain committed to helping our clients develop a lifelong regime of preventive breast health care by providing breast self-awareness education during every annual/well-woman exam and birth control consultation.

In response to the national Komen decision, PPRM has established a breast health fund to provide funding for the women whose breast cancer screening and care has been jeopardized by the Komen decision to withdraw funding. To learn more about how you help women receive essential breast health care, contact the development office at 1.800.230.PLAN.