Gov. Meyer and Jill Biden Push Early Breast Cancer Checks
State of DE - Governor Matt Meyer and former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden came together at Wilmington Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Their message was simple. Getting checked early can save your life.
They were joined by Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay, Delaware Health and Social Services Secretary Christen Linke Young, Delaware Surgeon General Dr. Neil Hockstein and ChristianaCare leaders. The focus was early detection, more affordable care and closing gaps in breast cancer outcomes.
During the event, Governor Meyer signed a proclamation naming October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It honors survivors and remembers those who lost their lives to breast cancer. It also recognizes the healthcare workers, caregivers and advocates who support patients and their families.
Nearly 5,000 Delaware women were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2018 and 2022, making it the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the state. Delaware ranks second in the nation for its breast cancer incidence rate, and Black women here have higher breast cancer death rates than white women.
According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate is more than 99% when breast cancer is found before it spreads beyond the breast. That number drops to 32% once the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body.
"Early detection could save your life," said Dr. Biden. "There's nothing on your to-do list more important than that."
Governor Meyer said where you live or how much you make should not decide the care you get. "Every woman deserves high-quality, accessible care regardless of her ZIP code, income or insurance status," he said. "Early detection is critical, but so is ensuring that once Delawareans are diagnosed, they can afford the appointments and care that follow."
Lt. Governor Gay shared a personal reminder. "This year I turned 40 and I got my mammogram. I encourage others to take time to take care of themselves," she said.
Secretary Young pointed to the state's Screening for Life program. "No one should have to put off a potentially lifesaving screening because of cost, transportation or difficulty finding an appointment," she said.
The Governor also pointed to Senate Bill 70, which he signed into law in August 2025. The bill was sponsored by Senator Nicole Poore and Representative Krista Griffith.
The law lets licensed genetic counselors order genetic tests on their own. That cuts out an extra step for patients who want answers about inherited risks like breast and ovarian cancer. Patients are still referred to a doctor when a medical exam is needed.
The event also honored Dr. Biden's long history of work on breast health. Before she was First Lady, she started the Biden Breast Health Initiative in Delaware to teach young women about breast health and early detection. As First Lady, she led the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research and backed the Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative.
The proclamation asks Delawareans to talk with their healthcare providers about breast cancer screening. It also encourages people to learn their family medical history and support timely, affordable care for women and families across the state.
