Photo Courtesy of UAB
Two Lives Saved: UAB Team Removes Cancer During Pregnancy Heidi Neas was 16 weeks pregnant when she was referred to UAB Medicine after receiving some abnormal genetic results from a routine test. After a brief mention of family history with kidney cancer, MFM physician Carolyn Webster, M.D. went ahead and scanned Neas’ kidneys “just in case.” They were both surprised to discover a large mass in her kidney—an 11-centimeter cancerous tumor. The team at the UAB O’Neal Cancer Center determined it would be safest for her and the baby to surgically remove the tumor. Fast forward a few months after her successful surgery, Neas was able to safely deliver little Abram. uabmedicine.org
New Bill Aims To Expand Heart Health Care For Alabama Women “Jump Rope for Heart” and other efforts by the The American Heart Association (AHA) were fun and cute when you were in elementary school… but did you know that the AHA claims that 6 in 10 women will have a heart disease by 2050? That’s no laughing matter. Not to mention that Alabama has one of the highest mortality rates for heart related deaths in the US. Needless to say, heart health is important—especially for women. Senator Katie Britt, R-Al- abama, is advocating on behalf of women with the proposal of the “Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act of 2026” Act. The legislation aims to provide free preventative health services, including cardiovascular risk screenings, to low-income and underinsured women aged 35 to 64 across the state. This Act will provide essential care to many women who lack access or funds for health care. If approved, the Act would go into effect in October and employ $250 million to expand the CDC’s Wisewoman program, which currently only provides screenings to women who have been referred by the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Read the full Act on congress.gov.
SPRING 2026 | PINK&BLUE
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