We’re all at risk for cancer, but I’m at more risk than most of the population. We recently discovered that my family carries the BRCA2 genetic defect, which increases our chances of breast and cervical cancer. While the typical woman has a 1 in 100 chance of being diagnosed, in my family we have a 1 in 4 chance. Consequently, I’ll start mammograms at age 25 when most women start them at 40. Thanks to screening, my mom is a 10-year survivor of breast cancer. She was diagnosed at a late stage when I was a sophomore in high school and was told she wouldn’t see me graduate. Happily, both my sister and I have graduated from high school and now college.
My passion for helping other families who are dealing with cancer diagnoses led me to volunteer for the American Cancer Society for eight years. Now I’m proud to be on staff. This week I took my story to Olympia to share with state lawmakers as part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Advocacy Day. Legislators are considering weakening the clean indoor air law by allowing cigar lounges to set up across the state. The law was established by an initiative that passed overwhelmingly in every county of the state – which makes it all the more frustrating that legislators are trying to weaken it. We have an obligation to the public’s health to lower and even eliminate risks from cancer. The cigar lounge bill would do the opposite by putting patrons and employees in harm’s way.
I already have to worry about breast and cervical cancer. I don’t want to worry about lung and throat cancer, too. Neither should anyone else.
Legislators should vote no on Senate Bill 5542 and keep our state’s clean indoor air law airtight.
Kelly Cochran, North Beach, Seattle