Dane County Board Recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 15, 2026
CountyBoardPress@danecounty.gov, (608) 228-9053
County Board

DANE COUNTY, Wis. — On Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, the Dane County Board of Supervisors officially recognized October 2026 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The board passed 2026 RES-179 to mark the observance and to encourage residents to learn about breast cancer prevention, screening, and the support available to patients and families across Dane County.

 

The American Cancer Society estimates that 321,910 people in the United States will be affected by breast cancer in 2026. In Wisconsin, an estimated 6,000 women will be diagnosed this year.

 

“Breast cancer touches nearly every family in some way, and anyone who has been close to it knows that early detection and the right support change everything,” said Supervisor Amy Larson (District 15), who read the resolution. “Gail’s Law is a meaningful step toward catching this disease earlier, and organizations like Gilda’s Club make sure patients and their families have somewhere to turn once the diagnosis comes.”

 

The resolution recognizes Gail’s Law, enacted this year as 2025 Wisconsin Act 103 and signed into law on March 19, 2026, which expands insurance coverage for medically necessary supplemental breast screening and diagnostic breast examinations for individuals with dense breast tissue or an increased risk of breast cancer. The law honors Gail Zeamer, a Wisconsin breast cancer advocate who died in 2024 following a late-stage diagnosis after cancer went undetected in dense breast tissue.

 

The board also recognized the work of Gilda’s Club Wisconsin, which provides support groups, individual counseling, patient advocacy, workshops, lifestyle activities, and family programming for adults and children impacted by cancer, as well as for the family members and friends who care for them.

 

“Thank you to the Dane County Board for recognizing Gilda’s Club Wisconsin and the support, education, and connection we provide to people and families impacted by breast cancer and other cancers,” said Kathleen O’Connell, program director at Gilda’s Club Wisconsin.

 

The Dane County Board of Supervisors reaffirms its commitment to supporting organizations like Gilda’s Club, raising awareness about breast cancer prevention, and advocating for policies that expand access to resources and protections for all Dane County residents, recognizing that prevention and early detection are critical to improving health outcomes.

 

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About the Dane County Board of Supervisors: The Dane County Board of Supervisors is the legislative and policymaking body of Dane County government. Composed of 37 supervisors elected to represent each county district, the county board’s mission is to effectively represent the people of Dane County, providing services that secure the blessings of freedom, ensure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, and perfect the forms of government. Learn more about the county board at https://board.danecounty.gov/.