State Senator Mattie Hunter has a long tradition of advocacy of minority disparities and breast cancer issues. The Senate Majority Caucus Whip continued that legacy this week as she passed out of committee legislation addressing breast health education for minorities.

“Minorities facing breast surgery are not being made aware of all of their options,” Hunter said. “Overcoming this disparity by inspiring greater awareness and educating citizens on all their choices is what we’re accomplishing with this legislation.”

State Senator Mattie Hunter, a constant champion for wellness in the General Assembly, helped Illinois take strides toward better public health when she passed out of committee a substantive measure dealing with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

“This is an extremely important health issue we must pay attention to and get serious about combating with increased understanding," Hunter said. "Education and greater awareness of this problem to save lives is our goal.”

Hunter is sponsoring House Bill 1455 declaring November COPD Awareness Month in Illinois.

True to her belief that quality medical care is what everyone deserves, Sen. Mattie Hunter supported a measure that won the approval of the Senate Human Services Committee extending health care assistance opportunities to the imprisoned.

"Whether in jail or not, you are a person and your health is valuable and a priority," Hunter said, "That is what I'm trying to achieve with this legislation. Being in a penitentiary in no way equates to an individual being undeserving of quality medical attention."

While mammograms have increasingly become a standard part of health care, many are not aware of the issues related to dense breast tissue. For instance, dense breast tissue makes it harder for doctors to accurately read cancer-screening mammograms and can be associated with increased breast cancer risks.

State Sen. Mattie Hunter is trying to raise awareness through education. She is the chief sponsor of a proposed law that would require doctors to inform individuals if dense breast tissue is found and provide them information about what it means.