[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 82 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S5933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           RACE FOR THE CURE

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, on June 15, in Washington, there will be a 
race to raise money to find a cure for a disease that will take the 
lives of an estimated 44,560 women this year. Appropriately titled Race 
for the Cure, it stresses the importance of finding a cure for breast 
cancer, a disease that will claim one in nine women. This race is one 
of people who care coming together for a cause in which they believe. 
However, this race is much more than that. It is symbolic of the race 
women are running against time. The Race for the Cure represents our 
efforts and concern in finding a cure for breast cancer and helping 
many women achieve a greater peace of mind.
  This terrible disease affects women everywhere. Here in the United 
States, breast cancer is second to lung cancer in cancer-related deaths 
among women. However, in spite of its prevalence, we still cling to the 
belief that it will not happen to us or those we are close to. Chances 
are that someone you know and love will be a victim of this tragic 
disease. Chances are that someone will be your wife, mother, daughter, 
or sister.
  As with most types of cancer, a primary cause has not been found. 
Young women are increasingly dealing with the fear of this potentially 
threatening disease. Older women, who are at a much higher risk, are 
often not aware of their vulnerability to breast cancer. Only 34 
percent of women over the age of 50 receive regular mammograms.
  Until a cure is found, we all must join in the effort to raise money 
for research and continually improve education and awareness of this 
disease. I am proud to say that Alabama has been a driving force in our 
Nation's efforts toward these goals. Advances at the University of 
Alabama at Birmingham, like the identification of the human natural 
killer cell thought to play a key role in the body's destruction of 
cancer cells, are vital to the discovery of a cure. The consistent 
support of research centers, like the Marshall Space Flight Center, 
which assist with and support cancer research, are crucial to our 
progression toward a cure. Not unlike UAB and Marshall Space Flight 
Center, cancer research and education facilities across the country 
must receive funding. This signifies the importance of the Race for the 
Cure which allows individuals, who are essentially helpless against 
cancer, to work in unison for cancer research and awareness.
  Having chaired the Alabama Breast Cancer Summit, I have been amazed 
at the aggressiveness and frequency of this disease. An article which 
appeared in The Journal of the American Medical Association on February 
9, 1994, told of how the baby boom generation have about twice the risk 
of developing cancer as their grandparents. The threat becomes even 
more imminent when one considers how quickly the percentage of elderly 
people in this country is growing. Even now, the risk for women is 
greater than before. Women born in the 1950's have almost a 3 times 
greater risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer than women born 50 
years earlier. Some of this increase can be attributed to the improved 
methods of diagnosing breast cancer. However, because the trends are 
steady and are seen in women over 50, who receive less screening, 
researchers believe better diagnoses cannot explain the whole picture.
  The Race for the Cure is, therefore, important not only in terms of 
raising money for breast cancer research but also in providing a forum 
for awareness and education. I encourage everyone who can to 
participate in the Race on June 15. Also, I would like to encourage 
everyone in the Nation to get involved in efforts to fight breast 
cancer in their communities. We all have to work diligently toward a 
cure for this tragic disease.

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