(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Today, Carrie’s TOUCH announced the passage of a resolution authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D., (D-San Diego) to designate May as Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month in California. This dedicated month will serve as an annual platform to educate Californians about the importance of bone health, debunk myths surrounding osteoporosis, and emphasize the importance of prevention and early detection.
“Even though 54 million Americans suffer from the debilitating bone disease, osteoporosis, it is an often ignored public health crisis. Every gender, race, and socioeconomic group is susceptible; however Black Californians are especially at risk of weakened bone health and are less likely to be screened for osteoporosis,” said Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. “By designating May as Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, we are taking a vital step forward in empowering individuals to prioritize their bone health.”
ACR-82’s passage is a significant milestone in Carrie’s TOUCH tireless advocacy efforts. The Sacramento-based nonprofit is committed to breaking the silence that surrounds Black women and breast cancer – silence that has led to Black women dying at a 41% higher rate than white women. Because cancer treatments can lead to bone loss, Carrie’s TOUCH joined the Coalition to Strengthen Bone Health to drive policy change to improve bone health, particularly among the African American and Black community. A 2021 Milliman report found that only 8% of female Medicare beneficiaries who suffer a fracture were screened for osteoporosis, yet for Black women the screening rate was just 5%. While early detection and intervention through screening is an important tool to reduce bone fractures, it is woefully underutilized. Medicare payments for osteoporosis screening have been cut by more than 70% since 2007, resulting in a major drop in the number of screening providers and the number of beneficiaries being screened.
“Women lose up to 20% of their bone density in five to seven years after menopause. And those who are battling cancer, like I did, have increased risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis,” said Reverend Tammie Denyse, Ph.D. (Hon), M.Div., Co-Founder and President, Carrie’s TOUCH. “Sadly, Black women are also less likely to be diagnosed with osteoporosis and experience worse outcomes of bone fractures. So don’t wait – take care of your bone health, just like you would your skin, and ask your provider for a DXA screening today to find out if you’re at risk for osteoporosis.”
California now joins thirteen other states across the nation who have taken steps to recognize May 2023 as Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, including Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
About Carrie’s TOUCH
The focus of Carrie’s TOUCH is to save more lives of Black women diagnosed with breast cancer and to ensure that they have an equal opportunity to live well after diagnosis. Though the nonprofit’s mission centers around breaking the silence that adversely impacts the African American community regarding breast cancer, Carrie’s TOUCH is a trusted advocate for fair treatment, education and empowerment for patients and the community. Connect with Carrie’s TOUCH socially @CarriesTOUCH.