Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed suggested in a 2012 essay that women's "social power and privilege" contribute to the disproportionate funding of breast cancer research compared to other diseases. El-Sayed, then a physician in training and social epidemiologist, published the piece in the 2×2 Project, a journal associated with Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
In the essay, titled "The Pink Ribbon Lobby," El-Sayed wrote, "All of this is not to say that breast cancer isn’t an incredibly important disease, which it is. And given the gendered history of public health, medicine, and research in our country, the social focus on breast cancer is warranted. However, the reallocation of public funds disproportionately to breast cancer is certainly not."
He questioned the focus on breast cancer, stating, "We’re left with an important question—why do some diseases attract so much support anyway?" El-Sayed proposed two potential answers for inequities in health research allocation: that diseases with higher survival rates attract more advocacy from those affected, and "it’s possible that advocacy is a function of the social power and privilege of those most likely to get a disease."
The CDC notes that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women, with those aged 50 and older being most likely to be diagnosed.
El-Sayed's campaign defended his record, stating, "Abdul spent his career fighting to improve health outcomes for Michiganders, including working to provide preventative screenings, mammograms, and more." A campaign spokesperson contrasted this with Republican candidate Mike Rogers, accusing him of voting to defund organizations that help women detect breast cancer early and repeatedly voting to repeal protections for pre-existing conditions. The campaign also noted Rogers' alleged support for a new $50 fee for routine cancer screenings.
This is not the first time past statements by El-Sayed on healthcare have drawn attention. Previously revealed comments from 2022 suggested that the legacy of slavery had "profoundly" influenced the standard of care in America. El-Sayed has also advocated for "Medicare for All" and is positioned as a progressive candidate in the Senate race.