Following the Department of Health's release this week of a report on breast cancer incidence rates by ZIP Code, Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell praised health officials for taking dramatic steps to highlight problem areas on Long Island and throughout New York state. The first in-the-nation breakdown of regions by ZIP codes aims to identify where clusters of high incidence rates exist and help in identifying possible environmental links to the disease.

"To be able to see each town and village's breast cancer statistics will be useful in educating the public on a local level and stressing the importance of early detection," said O'Connell, ranking Republican member on the Assembly Health Committee. "I applaud Governor Pataki and the Health Department for taking the initiative to create current resources for use by the public, and for the ongoing commitment to the fight against breast cancer."

Results of the study also identified 10 regions as having an elevated incidence of breast cancer. Among those regions, northern, southwestern, and southeastern Nassau County were included.

"This information will help health officials examine areas that may need further research into the environmental, hereditary, physical and other risk factors associated with breast cancer," O'Connell said.

The Department of Health has already released similar findings in map form for bladder, brain, colorectal, kidney, liver, lung, prostate and thyroid cancers, and leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

For more information about the ZIP Code breakdown and cancer maps, visit the Department of Health website at www.health.state.ny.us.