[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 183 (Friday, November 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE INTERCULTURAL CANCER COUNCIL [ICC] OFFERS NEW HOPE FOR CANCER'S 
                            GREATEST VICTIMS

                                 ______


                           HON. HENRY BONILLA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 17, 1995

  Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to report an important step 
forward in cancer research and medical affairs. The newly formed 
Intercultural Cancer Council [ICC] will be a leader in helping the 
Nation find solutions to why some of our largest population groups 
suffer from cancer at much greater levels than others.
  In the United States cancer will become the leading cause of death 
within the next several years. Partly because of the progress made 
against cardiovascular diseases; and partly because of the greater 
incidence of more than 200 different types of cancer. The ICC explains 
that by far the highest incidence and lowest survival rates from cancer 
are found in our minority and medically underserved populations.
  For instance, while we can be thankful that breast cancer detection, 
treatment, and survival is now improving significantly for the Nation, 
for African-American women it has actually become worse. Among 
Hispanics and native Americans cervical cancer takes lives at a rate 
far above the national average. This for a disease that can often be 
cured on an outpatient basis--when detected early. Alaskan Americans 
and native Americans are the leading victims of lung cancer, which 
remains among the cancers most resistant to treatment. Prostate cancer 
is several times more common in African-American men compared to white 
men from the same socioeconomic group. We don't yet know why Asian 
Americans have such a high rate of liver cancer, or exactly why Asian-
American women have an increasing rate of breast cancer.
  The ICC was formed earlier this year to help explain the disparities 
in where and why these cancers strike, and what steps may be taken to 
save the lives that would otherwise be lost in the future.
  As a Texan, I am particularly proud that the founders and cochairs of 
the ICC are department heads from two of my State's finest medical 
institutions. Lovell Jones, Ph.D. is from the M.D. Anderson Cancer 
Center at the University of Texas, and Armin Weinberg, Ph.D., who is 
also a cancer researcher, is from the equally prestigious Baylor 
College of Medicine. In addition the Dallas-based Susan G. Komen Breast 
Cancer Foundation is one of the original sustaining members of the ICC.
  To this life affirming effort the ICC brings an impressive breadth of 
membership and expertise that crosses all racial and ethnic lines. The 
ICC includes institutions and advisers from the American Cancer 
Society, National Hispanic Leadership Initiative on Cancer, Howard 
University, American Indian Physicians Association, National 
Appalachian Leadership Initiative on Cancer, American Association for 
Cancer Research, the Kellogg Company, American Public Health 
Association, Bosom Buddies, YWCA, Harlem Hospital, Association of Asian 
Pacific Community Health Organizations, National Coalition for Cancer 
Survivorship, and the Institute of Medicine, among others.
  The ICC will be a valuable asset to public education as well as to 
Congress and government agencies such as the National Institutes of 
Health, National Cancer Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention. A major objective of the ICC is to help institutions 
develop prevention, treatment, and research policies so that American 
medicine free of racial tensions. The ICC believes that the practice of 
medicine can be a positive example for other institutions.
  We must allocate select resources where the disease is most 
prevalent. For cancer this means special study on why specific 
populations are so much more vulnerable. Finding these answers is good 
medicine because it will allow us to more effectively prevent or cure 
cancer throughout our entire population. Besides being good science, 
this approach reflects the best in America by showing special 
compassion for the most vulnerable among us.
  Many population groups face economic restraints in obtaining the 
early detection and successful treatment of cancer. This is only a 
minor part of the reason for cancer's disproportionate impacting these 
groups, though it is sometimes used an excuse not to do the critically 
needed research into the many genetic, cultural, and epidemiological 
causes of cancer.
  Mr. Speaker, some of our House colleagues can testify on being cancer 
survivors. Others are thankful that they have a loved one with them 
today who a few years ago would have been lost because the best that 
science and medicine then had to offer would not have been enough. 
Unfortunately, everyone in our society does not benefit equally from 
this lifesaving progress. The significantly higher incidence of cancer, 
and lower survival rate among minorities, culturally diverse, and 
medically underserved communities is a human tragedy. It is also an 
unnecessary burden on the Nation since so many of these deaths, are 
avoidable.
  There are many unknown reasons for these tragic imbalances. I am 
pleased that we now have the ICC to help us seek the answers to these 
life and death medical matters.

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