My mother, Lois E. Spinks-Lawson, passed away during January of 2019 due to metastatic breast cancer. What I observed, and endured, over the time that metastatic breast cancer ravaged her body left a lasting impact on my will to engage in the fight to eradicate this horrific disease. I did some basic research on the death rates due to metastatic breast cancer and was amazed to find out that the ‘highest death rates’ from this disease exist within the African American female community statewide, followed by White females living in rural communities across the state. The fact that Iowa’s total African American population is estimated to be around 4%, it amazed me to find out that the highest death rate owing to metastatic breast cancer exists in the African American community. During December of 2019, I contacted Iowa State Representative Kristin Sunde, who is the legislator who represents my district in the statehouse. We met and discussed my concerns about the impact of metastatic breast cancer on African American women. Subsequently, I contacted Iowa State Representative Ruth Ann Gaines during March of 2020, although Representative Gaines resides outside of my legislative district, she was empathetic and very interested in addressing the devastating impact of metastatic breast cancer on the African American community in Iowa. During our meeting, she provided me with some basic insight on the Black Caucus, to include its membership. I decided to work with the Black Caucus going forward. I had drafted a House Resolution that included what I thought was important in addressing the significance of the issue as it relates to African American women, and White women living in rural communities, but COVID-19 interrupted the legislative session. Thereafter, Representatives Ruth Ann Gaines, Phyllis Thede, and Ross Wilburn lead efforts, with my input, to draft a proclamation instead, that was issued and signed by Governor Kim Reynolds on October 1, 2020, proclaiming October 13, 2020, as the first Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Iowa. In addition, on September 28, 2020, Representative Ruth Ann Gaines, Representative Phyllis Thede, and I created a video regarding the Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day proclamation. In this video, Representatives Ruth Ann Gaines and Phyllis Thede read the proclamation, which was broadcasted on Susan G. Komen Greater Iowa’s Facebook page. During October of 2020, thanks to Representative Ruth Ann Gaines, I did an interview regarding the Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day proclamation, that was published in the Business Record (online only). In January of 2021, I wrote an article regarding metastatic breast cancer that was published by the Business Record’s sister publication, Fearless. Then during March of 2021, I, along with my father, interviewed Iowa State Representative Ross Wilburn, who is also Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party. The article was published in The Urban Experience Magazine. I publicly thank Representative Wilburn for having his legislative staff do research on metastatic breast cancer in preparation for the proclamation mentioned hereinabove. This year, a House Resolution regarding an annual Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Iowa failed to pass. As May is National Cancer Research Month, I have prepared this article as part of my ongoing advocacy for the need to increase awareness of the deadly impact of metastatic breast cancer, especially on African American women and White women living in rural areas in Iowa. I urge you to contact any or all of the following Iowa legislators, who are members of the Black Caucus, for their support in further addressing the deadly
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