[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 76 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    BREAST CANCER--RACE FOR THE CURE

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I would like to join my colleagues in 
expressing support for research on breast cancer. This frightening 
disease has taken the lives of far too many women. The long list of 
those who have died includes many of my own friends.
  Breast cancer is a growing public health problem in this Nation, and 
a great threat to women's health. It is estimated that during the 
1990's, nearly 2 million women in the United States will be diagnosed 
with breast cancer, and 460,000 women will die from this deadly 
disease.
  Many women are confused by the mixed messages being sent to us today 
about breast cancer and other diseases affecting women. One year, we 
are told to have annual mammograms beginning at the age of 40, and we 
faithfully comply. Next, we are told to have a mammogram every other 
year. Then, we are told not to have mammograms until the age of 50 
because mammograms are not as reliable as we thought in younger women. 
We remain worried and confused, and meanwhile women continue to die.
  What is the message here?
  Clearly, more research must be done. More must be done to educate all 
of us about the risks, prevention and treatment of breast cancer. These 
mixed messages create confusion, and raise our fear about this disease.
  My own fear has intensified because I have lost a number of personal 
friends to breast and cervical cancer in the last 6 months. I will be 
walking in their memory in the Race for the Cure this weekend.
  The race will be held in cities across the Nation at different times 
this summer. In Seattle, many many women will be walking together to 
join voices in sending a strong and united message. Here in Washington, 
DC, I will be joining members of my staff to walk in the Race for the 
Cure this Saturday. We are proud to join millions of Americans in 
raising the level of awareness about breast cancer and the need for 
research and answers to this frightening epidemic.
  Mr. President, it also is appropriations time. We in Congress need to 
allocate more funding for research on breast cancer as well as research 
on other diseases which affect women.
  Eighty percent of those affected by osteoporosis are women. Women are 
the fastest growing demographic group that is HIV positive. There is no 
method to detect ovarian cancer in its early stages. False negatives 
for pap smears for cervical cancer run as high as 40 percent. Women 
suffer from clinical depression at rates twice that of men. These are 
just a few of the health problems women face that need increased 
attention by the medical and scientific communities.
  Ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, endometriosis, the longlasting 
effects of DES, lupus, and alcoholism in women--all these areas of 
research have been overlooked in the past.
  Mr. President, I urge my colleagues and everyone else to participate 
in the Race for the Cure either here in Washington, DC or in their 
hometowns. I challenge them to walk the walk, and not just talk the 
talk on this issue. And, I urge the U.S. Congress to allocate more 
funding for research on breast cancer and other diseases affecting 
women.

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