[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E214-E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    LEGISLATION TO RAISE AWARENESS OF MAMMOGRAPHY AND BREAST CANCER 
                         GUIDELINES INTRODUCED

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JENNIFER DUNN

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 11, 1997

  Ms. DUNN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, on January 23, the National 
Cancer Institute declined to recommend that women in their forties seek 
annual breast cancer screening. Research into the benefits of 
mammography for women in this age group is wholly inadequate. Further, 
without definitive guidelines, the lives of America's mothers, wives, 
sisters, and daughters are at risk. This year, an estimated 33,000 
women in their forties will be diagnosed with breast cancer--these are 
women in the prime of their lives, women whose children are still in 
kindergarten, and women entering the peak of their careers.
  Guidelines for women aged 40 to 49 were in place until 1993, when 
they were rescinded by the National Cancer Institute. This occurred 
despite the lack of confidence in available research and differing 
opinions by respected medical organizations on the wisdom of the 
rescission. Research performed in two studies last year found a 44 and 
36 percent lower death rate among women who received mammograms in 
their forties, and a number of studies have shown that breast tumors in 
women under the age of 50 may grow far more rapidly than in older 
women, suggesting

[[Page E215]]

that annual mammograms are of value to women in this age group.
  Congress must take an active role in this issue and that is why I am 
introducing this bipartisan resolution that calls for one, additional 
research into the benefits of mammography for women aged 40 to 49, and 
two, a strong request that the advisory panel for the National Cancer 
Institute consider reissuing the guideline rescinded in 1993 for 
mammography for women when it convenes in February 1997, or until there 
is more definitive data, direct the public to consider guidelines by 
other organizations. The resolution will serve as the House's 
opportunity to concur with the Senate's statement on this matter, when 
on February 4, it approved Senator Snowe's bill, S. Res. 47, by a 
unanimous vote of 98 to 0.
  Mr. Speaker, and distinguished colleagues, please support this vital 
resolution that helps raise awareness of mammography and breast cancer 
guidelines.

                          ____________________