Hello, I'm Lisa Richardson, director of CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control.
CDC reached a significant milestone in 2021. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early
Detection Program is turning 30. We will be celebrating that anniversary this year.
We call it the BNC Program. This BNC program was born from an idea raised by advocates in the U.S.,
with data and science in hand, who raised the need for making breast and cervical cancer
screening available to low-income women. Congress responded by passing the Breast and Cervical
Cancer Mortality Act of 1990. This law led to funding that allowed the door to open for CDC
to create the BNC Program. Screening began a year later. Things really took off from there. In 1993,
the program expanded to include American Indian and Alaska Native tribal organizations. Later in
2001, a law was passed that allowed our programs to apply for a Medicaid waiver
to pay for treatment. We use a lot of statistics when we talk about the program, but it isn't just
about the numbers. Each one of the points you see on our charts and graphs represents a woman
who received breast and cervical cancer screening who might not have received it otherwise.
I'm inspired every day by the impact of the work we do together, it's about the women. At CDC, we
work with women through our programs, as a doctor, I still miss working with women face to face,
but here we are still making a difference, ensuring care for women where it's needed.
I've been with the program since 1997. It's been amazing to see this program expand and reach
more and more women over the years. Eight states have traveled with CDC from the beginning of
the 30-year journey from 1991 until today. These eight states: California, Colorado,
New Mexico, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan, West Virginia, and South Carolina are recognized for
laying the foundation for what the BNC program is today. By the end of 1996, national program reach
was achieved when CDC awarded funding to all 50 states and we also celebrated providing over 1
million screenings to more than six hundred and seventy five thousand women. Nearly six million
women have been served. Among uninsured low income women, our program found seventy one thousand
breast cancers and four thousand eight hundred cervical cancers that might not have been found.
Who could have imagined in 1991, that millions of women would have been reached by the BNC program?
Over the past 30 years, the program helped women, and saved lives, and the BNC program continues on a
path that increases health equity among low income and minority women. Among the one million women
provided breast services in the most recent five years, nearly 71 percent were minority women.
Hispanic women represented over half of the women served. The program continues to change
to meet the times. The BNC program is using population-based approaches to improve screening
in clinics to increase high quality breast and cervical cancer screening for all women. Lastly,
I should mention that funding for the BNC program in 1991 led to the creation of CDC's Division of
Cancer Prevention and Control and the resulting outstanding portfolio of work that we do today.
I want to personally acknowledge CDC's current awardees who span across states, the District
of Columbia, tribes and tribal organizations, Puerto Rico, and U.S. affiliated pacific islands,
continuing the good work that changes lives. Without the dedication of thousands of program
staff, clinical providers, and others who lead the care of women, the success of our
core BNC program would not be a reality. This has been a rewarding 30-year journey together,
needless to say we could not have accomplished all that we have without working together.
As we move into the next 30 years, I want us, you and me, to always remember the women we serve
that's what's important, that's where the value lies, more women screened, more cancers detected
or prevented, and more women living longer, healthier lives.
Please join the celebration of our BNC program and visit our website at cdc.gov slash cancer.