[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E132-E133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     COLORECTAL CANCER LEGISLATION

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 1998

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to announce that I am introducing 
a resolution to bring new public attention and federal resources to the 
issue of colorectal cancer.
  Every year I lose an average of 172 of my constituents in Monroe 
County, New York to colorectal cancer. This is a tragic failure of our 
health care system because colorectal cancer is preventable, 
detectable, treatable, and often curable. Nevertheless, 55,000 
Americans died in 1997 from this terrible disease.
  Today I am introducing legislation that I hope will begin to dispel 
this deadly lack of knowledge. Along with 20 of my colleagues, I

[[Page E133]]

will introduce a resolution drawing attention to colorectal cancer and 
urging the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a 
national public education and awareness campaign.
  Too many Americans are simply unaware of their risk for colorectal 
cancer and the need for regular screening. Many cases of colorectal 
cancer can be prevented by eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, 
exercising regularly, and avoiding the abuse of alcohol and tobacco. 
Other cases can be prevented by removing precancerous polyps. And when 
colorectal cancer is detected before it has spread, it is 92 percent 
curable.
  Tragically, too many cases of this cancer are not detected at that 
early stage. Respected authorities such as the American Cancer Society 
recommend that people over 50 have annual colorectal cancer screenings. 
Yet fewer than 20 percent of Americans at risk do so. According to one 
survey, one-third of men and women over 50 had never even heard of a 
sigmoidoscopy, one of the main tests to detect this disease.
  We need to mount a war against this terrible disease. Education is 
the first vital step enabling us to reach all Americans with factual, 
scientific information about reducing their risk for colorectal cancer. 
We need to talk about this disease, and we need the media to take an 
active role in writing about it. Ten years ago it was not considered 
polite to talk about a mammogram in public; I want to bring colorectal 
cancer screening out of the closet the same way. Yesterday's Washington 
Post Health section set a shining example by devoting an entire special 
issue to colorectal cancer. We need more efforts like this to teach 
everyone about the steps they can take to avoid this disease.
  As an activist on women's health issues, I would like to note that 
this issue is especially important for women. For too long, women have 
viewed colorectal cancer as a man's disease. This is utterly false. 
Colorectal cancer is an equal opportunity killer, striking men and 
women at equal rates. I want to be sure both our brothers and our 
sisters are all getting regular colorectal cancer screenings and taking 
measures to reduce their risk.
  Education is the first step in the battle we are waging. Today I sent 
a letter to HHS Secretary Donna Shalala embarking upon the second step 
of this war as well. This letter requests that the department examine 
some of the causes underlying the low rates of colorectal cancer 
screening in our nation, including levels of screening around the 
nation, the importance of factors such as insurance coverage, and the 
role physicians play in ensuring that patients are screened regularly. 
This report will yield some new insights into additional steps we can 
take in Congress to fight colorectal cancer.
  I am pleased to note that several Members of Congress with 
outstanding records on the issue of colorectal cancer are serving as 
lead original cosponsors of this resolution: Representatives Charlie 
Rangel, Bill Thomas, Norman Sisisky, Ben Cardin, and Alcee Hastings. 
Fifteen other Members of Congress have signed on as original cosponsors 
as well. I am also proud to announce that this resolution already has 
been endorsed by the American Cancer Society and Partnership for 
Prevention.
  I hope all my colleagues will join me in working to defeat colorectal 
cancer, a disease that needlessly claims the lives of far too many 
Americans every year.

                          ____________________