[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH AND INFORMATION AMENDMENTS OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 5, 1997

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced the Ovarian 
Cancer Research and Information Amendments of 1997. A bill that would 
increase funding for ovarian cancer research to $90 million, require 
the establishment of at least one specialized program of research 
excellence [SPORE] in ovarian cancer at the National Cancer Institute, 
and provide for a comprehensive information distribution program.
  Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecological cancer and the 
number of ovarian cancer-related deaths continues to climb. This year, 
ovarian cancer will take the lives of 14,200 American women while 
26,800 more American women will be diagnosed.
  If ovarian cancer is discovered and treated in its early stages, the 
5-year survival rate is 92 percent. The sad thing is that less than a 
quarter of all ovarian cancer cases are detected at the early stages. 
Why? Because there are no effective early screening tests for ovarian 
cancer. Instead of a 5-year survival rate of 92 percent as in early 
detected cases, the overall 5-year relative survival rate is 46 
percent. Even more disheartening is the statistic that advanced cases 
have a 5-year survival rate of 25 percent. We must take action.
  We are not doing enough to find an early detection test for ovarian 
cancer. Although ovarian cancer-related deaths more than doubled 
cervical cancer-related deaths, only $39.4 million was spent on ovarian 
cancer while $48.1 million went to cervical cancer in 1996.
  It is essential for the Congress to make a strong commitment to 
saving the lives of our thousands of mothers, grandmothers, daughters, 
and sisters who are afflicted with ovarian cancer.
  I urge immediate consideration and passage of this bill.

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