[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 170 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H11569-H11570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fox of Pennsylvania). Under a previous 
order of the House, the gentlewoman from Connecticut [Ms. DeLauro] is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am honored tonight to participate in this 
special order, and I thank the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Maloney] 
for her efforts in organizing this commemoration of Breast Cancer 
Awareness month. Most importantly, we are here to pay tribute to the 
women and men who fight to survive this deadly and tragic disease.
  Breast cancer claims the lives of more than 44,000 women and 300 men 
each year. Excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most 
common cancer among women, accounting for one out of every three cancer 
diagnoses.
  In 1996, over 184,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are 
expected to be diagnosed.
  While the statistics are daunting, there is hope.
  We have learned over the years that early diagnosis and early 
treatment of breast cancer dramatically increases survival rates for 
its victims.
  I know something about the importance of early detection--it saved my 
life.
  Nine years ago, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. But I was lucky. 
My cancer was discovered early and I have been cancer free for 9 years. 
I am forever grateful to the wonderful doctors and nurses who saved my 
life and to the many researchers whose relentless and often 
unrecognized efforts have produced so many advancements in cancer 
detection and treatment.
  We know that early detection is the most effective way to keep cancer 
from killing. Unfortunately, these services are not as readily and 
widely available as they need to be.
  Therefore, we must continue to fight for increased funding for breast 
cancer research and screening. As a member of the National Security 
Committee, I worked hard to ensure that the House appropriated $100 
million for breast cancer programs in the Department of Defense 
appropriations bill for fiscal year 1996.
  Furthermore, we must fight for increased funding for the breast 
cancer research at the National Institutes of Health and the National 
Cancer Institute. The House appropriated a 5.7 percent increase in 
funding for the National Cancer Institute, which funds the Breast and 
Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention programs which I sponsored.

[[Page H11570]]

  On the last evening of Breast Cancer Awareness month, we must not 
allow the specter of breast cancer to lurk in the darkness. We must 
recommit ourselves in the upcoming year to arm our Nation's women with 
the information, resources and support to combat and survive this 
horrifying disease. Together, I know we can do it.

                          ____________________