In Indiana, a dedicated group of breast cancer survivors and supporters known as the Hoosier Breast Cancer Advocates (HBCA) wants to transform breast cancer care through bipartisan legislation.
Their mission is to reduce the alarming statistics of over 5,400 annual diagnoses and more than 900 deaths among Hoosiers by advocating for legislation at their first annual Pink Out Day on March 31 at the statehouse.
Pink Out Day will see HBCA advocates, partner organizations, survivors and families gather to support a wide array of legislation, echoing the work HBCA has done since their formation.
The origins of HBCA trace back to when Heather Pirowski was diagnosed with Stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Her journey to remission ignited a passion for advocacy, leading to the formation of HBCA alongside fellow survivor and advocate Carrie Cagnassola. Together, they recognized the pressing need for legislative action to address gaps in breast cancer awareness and care within Indiana.
“Our mission is to bring people together with education and to inform and advocate for breast cancer policies here in Indiana,” Pirowski said. “When you get this diagnosis of breast cancer, you go through your treatments, but then, after a while, you think, ‘Huh, what do I do? I want to do something, but how can I use my voice?’”
Other organizations that are participating include Pink-4-Ever, an organization dedicated to ending the disparities around breast cancer through education, research, support and advocacy.
“Living here in Indianapolis, I think (Pink Out Day) is really important regarding advocacy because folks need to know what to do next,” said Nadia Miller, president of Pink-4-Ever. “I think the desire is there. I’m in the community quite a bit, and the desire is there.”
Central to HBCA’s efforts is the promotion of House Bill No. 1299, which aims to establish a Breast Cancer Research Fund in Indiana. This initiative would provide funding for research, improve access to advanced screenings and ensure comprehensive care for breast cancer patients across the state. By engaging with legislators, organizing community events and empowering survivors, HBCA is striving to create a future where breast cancer diagnoses are met with effective treatments and hope.
Dr. Kelvin Lee, director of the IU Comprehensive Cancer Center, said breast cancer funding could be used to help thousands of Hoosiers.
“Despite the fact that we’ve made huge progress, there’s a lot of things that we don’t know,” Lee said. “How do you prevent cancer? How do you prevent cancer for the general population? All of those are impacted by funding for research.”
HB 1299 currently stands as a dead bill after being attached to a budget and sent to the Ways and Means Committee. Pirowski said she and other advocates at HBCA are still hopeful, particularly after a win last year with HB 1058, which mandates that facilities performing mammograms provide patients with assessments of their breast tissue density, accompanied by written notices.
“When we look at the state budget, nothing is allocated to cancer research,” Pirowski said. “We are hopeful so that we can continue having that conversation and letting people know that’s why Pink Out the Statehouse Advocacy Day is such a huge thing because people didn’t even realize that there was zero money for cancer research in Indiana.”
The journey advocating for breast cancer legislation is a difficult one, according to Pirowski.
“I’m not a lobbyist,” Pirowski said. “I’m a survivor. In order for me to be listened to, I have to say I’m a lobbyist so I could set up these meetings with (legislators).”
Despite their best efforts at HB 1299, the bill may never become law. Advocates like Piowski and Miller hope that events like Pink Out Day will encourage the conversation to continue down a path to more funding to protect the lives of Hoosiers.
For more information on how to get involved or support HBCA’s initiatives, visit their official website at hoosierbcadvocates.com/.
Pink Out Day will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 31 at the Statehouse. Visit their website to register.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
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Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
