For Release: May 1997

Contact:
Ellen Potocki
National Center on Women & Aging
potocki@binah.cc.brandeis.edu

Waltham, Mass. -- In its May 1997 Women & Aging Letter, the National Policy and Resource Center on Women and Aging takes a strong position in the mammography debate.  With conflicting and confusing reports coming to women from both health care providers and the news media, the Center stresses the fact that early detection saves lives.

"Women aged 50 and older are at higher risk of breast cancer than are younger women, and risk increases significantly with age," says Phyllis Mutschler, the Center's Director.  "The newsletter examines why half of Americaís women are not getting the mammograms they should, and encourages readers to actively seek information on mammography screenings."

The Center brings national attention to issues and policies that are facing midlife and older women.  The Center promotes feasible solutions to the problems women encounter and strives to insure that policymakers make informed decisions on issues of vital interest to women as they age.

A copy of the May Letter and a Center brochure are being sent to key journalists in the areas of health, womenís issues, and aging.  Please join the Center in encouraging older women to become advocates for their own health and to make mammography a yearly habit.

Support for the Center is provided by the John A. Hartford Foundation of New York City.  Since 1979, the Foundation has focused its support on improving the organization and financing of health care and assisting the health care system to accommodate the nationís aging population.