[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E235-E236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 CANCER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 12, 1997

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I am inserting my Washington Report for 
Wednesday, January 1, 1997 into the Congressional Record.

                     Progress in the War on Cancer

       Twenty five years ago this month President Richard Nixon 
     declared a national war on cancer. One of the frequent 
     questions put to me by constituents is, ``How goes the war?'' 
     It is not an easy question to answer. Despite the glut of 
     information on cancer these days much of the news seems 
     destined to confuse us. The statistics pour out from the 
     doctors and hospitals across the country but there is wide 
     disagreement about what they really mean.
       There is much good news to report. The cancer death rate 
     fell by nearly 3% between 1991 and 1995, the first sustained 
     drop since national record keeping was begun in the 1930s. 
     The 1990s may well be remembered as the decade when we 
     measurably turned the tide against cancer. Cancer certainly 
     remains among the worst fears of Americans, but it is not the 
     death sentence that it once was. Of more than 10 million 
     Americans who are cancer survivors, 7 million are long term 
     survivors having had cancer diagnosed more than five years 
     ago.
       There is, however, reason for concern. After billions of 
     dollars in research, we still don't have a cure for cancer, 
     and some researchers doubt we will develop a single cure. The 
     fear of cancer is obvious. Over 40% of us will develop 
     cancer, and over 20% of us will die from the disease. Within 
     five years cancer will be the leading cause of death in the 
     United States, responsible for over 6 million years of life 
     prematurely lost each year and an annual cost to the economy 
     of over $100 billion.
       While we may not have a cure for cancer, our cancer 
     research efforts, led by the National Cancer Institute in 
     conjunction with private research efforts, have produced 
     significant incremental successes. We have a better 
     understanding of how a normal cell changes into a cancerous 
     one. Some forms of cancer have actually been reduced. Better 
     treatment methods with fewer side effects are now available. 
     Less disfiguring surgeries are being performed. The quality 
     of life for cancer survivors has been enhanced substantially. 
     These successes give us cause for optimism in the fight 
     against cancer.


                          what causes cancer?

       The most striking progress we have made in cancer research 
     over the last quarter century is our understanding of the 
     biology of cancer, that is, how a good cell goes haywire and 
     divides continuously. Cancer occurs when our cells divide 
     uncontrollably resulting in the formation of a mass of 
     tissue, otherwise known as a malignant tumor. The tumor 
     destroys nearby tissues and organs as it grows.
       We now know that cancer is linked to human genes. 
     Scientists have discovered that altered genes or altered gene 
     activity cause a cell to divide continuously. A person may 
     inherit altered or abnormal genes, or acquire them through 
     chemical or physical damage or the effects of viruses. 
     Scientists have already discovered over 20 genes linked to 
     cancer that run in the family. They have discovered that a 
     particular gene, the p52 gene, can stop tumors before they 
     grow and that this gene, if damaged, is involved in some 60% 
     of cancers.

[[Page E236]]

              cancer detection, treatment, and prevention

       Our increased knowledge about cancer has led to dramatic 
     improvements in screening, detection, treatment, and 
     prevention. We are seeing a reduction in some cancer types 
     directly resulting from these improvements. Doctors are able 
     to routinely screen patients for cancers like breast, 
     cervical, prostate and colorectal cancer. These tests help 
     detect cancer in the earlier stages of development when the 
     likelihood of successful treatment is best.
       We are also seeing progress in the effectiveness of 
     standard cancer treatments. Most cancers are treated first 
     with surgical removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue, 
     followed by radiation or chemotherapy to control spreading to 
     other parts of the body. Less damaging surgical procedures 
     are now an option; radiation can now be administered in a 
     precise, pinpoint fashion; and the side effects of 
     chemotherapy are now more tolerable thanks to new medicines 
     that combat nausea, anemia, and immune suppression. More 
     targeted therapies are also emerging. There are some 
     experimental anticancer drugs, for example, which are better 
     equipped to target a malignant tumor and kill the cancer 
     cells while avoiding the healthy ones.
       Researchers also stress the importance of prevention and 
     education in reducing the number of cancer cases. Changes in 
     lifestyle and eating habits as well as reduced exposure to 
     chemicals in the work place have contributed to declining 
     cancer rates. Cancer awareness has also paid off. People are 
     much more conscious of cancer's early warning signs and when 
     to seek treatment.


                       building on our successes

       Much work remains to be done in our fight against cancer. 
     While we are experiencing the first sustained decline in 
     cancer mortality since the 1930's, several types of cancer 
     are staying at the same levels or increasing, such as non-
     Hodgkin's lymphoma, melanoma, and brain and kidney cancers.
       We must continue to strengthen our national investment in 
     cancer research. One reason we have not made great strides in 
     halting cancer deaths is that cancer is perhaps a hundred 
     different diseases. It is just extraordinarily complex to 
     deal with. The National Cancer Institute, the lead Federal 
     cancer research body, will continue to focus its research 
     efforts on understanding the genetic basis of cancer, 
     improving early detection techniques, and developing better 
     treatment methods.


                               conclusion

       The struggle against cancer has been long and hard and has 
     produced very few dramatic breakthroughs, but the doctors and 
     the scientists are slowly gaining ground. We have not found 
     the magic bullet capable of eradicating cancer and may never 
     find it, but what we are seeing is a succession of small 
     incremental improvements that show great promise in 
     controlling the spread of cancer, reducing the death rate and 
     improving the quality of life for cancer survivors. As one 
     doctor said, ``We're running a marathon, not a sprint.''
       Note: The National Cancer Institute provides help directly 
     to patients, their families, and health care professionals 
     through its cancer information toll-free telephone service at 
     1-800-4-CANCER.

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