[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 143 (Sunday, October 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING IMPORTANCE OF MAMMOGRAPHY AND BIOPSIES IN 
                         FIGHTING BREAST CANCER

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                               speech of

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 1998

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October as Breast 
Cancer Awareness Month. The statistics on breast cancer present an 
alarming picture. In 1998, in the state of California alone, there were 
17,600 new cases of breast cancer among women and 4,300 deaths from 
breast cancer. Nationwide, approximately 180,000 new cases of breast 
cancer will be diagnosed this year and more then 43,000 women will die 
from the disease. One out of nine women in the U.S. will develop breast 
cancer in her lifetime. This risk has increased from one out of 14 in 
1960.
  While the statistics are staggering, we can be encouraged by the 
progress in the areas of research, technology and early detection which 
have increased survival rates to about two million breast cancer 
survivors in America today. With over 43,000 women dying from breast 
cancer each year, early diagnosis and patient education are critical in 
the battle against this deadly disease.
  Mammogram testing can reveal breast cancer at its earliest stage--up 
to two years before it is obvious in a breast exam. Recently, both the 
House and Senate passed a measure to reauthorize the Mammography 
Quality Standards Act to ensure that national quality control standards 
are met for mammography. Women can rest assured that under the 
Mammography Quality Standards Act, national quality control standards 
are enforced by regular inspection and that every facility performing 
mammographies will be held to the standards for safety, well trained 
technicians and accurate readings.
  More than one million breast biopsies are performed each year in the 
U.S. and approximately 80% of these biopsies are proven benign. A 
recent non-surgical biopsy procedure called the mammotome allows women 
to choose a less invasive alternative to surgical biopsies with minimal 
scarring and no general anesthesia. This ground breaking procedure will 
provide women with an alternative to surgery and should ultimately 
result in better care and treatment for women.
  While early detection is saving lives, we must not become complacent 
about local cancer rates and the potential link between environmental 
factors and breast cancer and other cancers. In a recent review, the 
Center for Disease Control (CDC) has concluded that the incidence of 
invasive breast cancer in San Francisco has been determined to be 
comparable to other areas in the nation. However, I believe it is 
essential that the CDC continue to monitor local cancer rates and 
further national research on the link between cancer and the 
environment, particularly in light of questions about an increased 
incidence of breast cancer in the Bayview Hunters Point area.
  As a Member of the House Appropriations Committee on Labor-Health and 
Human Services-Education, I have requested that the National Academy of 
Sciences study the status of scientific knowledge of the environmental 
causes of breast cancer and identify research needs and establish 
research priorities in this area.
  In addition, I am joined by several of my colleagues, to request that 
the General Accounting Office conduct a comprehensive review of federal 
environmental health research activities.
  Mr. Speaker, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let us renew our 
commitment to fighting breast cancer by increasing funding levels for 
research and for breast and cervical screening programs. We must also 
continue to educate and inform women about regular self-examination, 
physician examination, and to ensure access to low-cost, effective 
mammograms.
  If we continue our national commitment to research and prevention 
efforts in the fight against breast cancer, the discovery of causes and 
cures for a disease that has no apparent cause or cure may soon become 
a long awaited reality.

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