[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2120-E2121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE PINK RIBBONS PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 13, 1998

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the tremendous 
contribution that the Pink Ribbons Project is making in the battle 
against breast cancer.
  Every October, we celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month to 
highlight the efforts by medical providers, community organizations, 
and businesses to ensure all women have access to the breast cancer 
screening and treatment they need. It is particularly gratifying to 
acknowledge the efforts of the Pink Ribbons Project, Dancers in Motion 
for Breast Cancer, whose generosity is helping to achieve this goal and 
save lives.
  The Pink Ribbons Project was conceived and created in New York City 
in May 1995 by

[[Page E2121]]

four artists whose lives were personally touched by breast cancer. One 
of these dancers is Jane Weiner, the sister of Susan Rafte, a 
Houstonian who is a survivor of metastatic breast cancer.
  I believe that Susan's story is important for all women to 
understand. In 1992, at age 30, Susan discovered a lump during self-
examination, but her doctor did not believe it could be cancer for such 
a young, healthy patient. In 1994, Susan was diagnosed with metastatic 
breast cancer. She opted for a bilateral mastectomy and reconstructive 
surgery. Regrettably, her battle was not over. In 1996, she discovered 
that her cancer had spread to her spine and she opted to undergo a new 
bone marrow transplant procedure. Under this procedure, patients 
undergo extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatment to kill the 
cancer cells. As a result of these treatments, many patients lose their 
bone marrow and are susceptible to infections. In order to protect 
against infections, patients donate healthy bone marrow prior to their 
radiation and chemotherapy treatments and then transplant their 
analogous bone marrow after undergoing treatments. Susan's treatment 
has been a success and today she is fighting to ensure healthier 
futures for all women with her family, husband Alan Rafte, also a 
cancer survivor, and her 4-year-old daughter Marika as a special 
inspiration. In particular, Susan wants to encourage other women to be 
aggressive about their health and get second opinions when they are not 
satisfied with diagnoses and treatments.
  The Pink Ribbons Project is the first dance initiative to join the 
fight against breast cancer. In 1996, the dance was introduced in Los 
Angeles. This year, these Pink Ribbons dancers will create a dance 
benefit called Hot Pink Houston to be performed at the Cullen Theater 
on November 12, 1998 in Houston. These dancers donate their time, 
service and talents to help raise funds for breast cancer advocacy, 
education and research.
  With their first performance, the Pink Ribbons Project raised more 
than $10,000 that was donated to the National Alliance for Breast 
Cancer Organizations (NABCO). NABCO used these funds to send 10 women 
with metastatic breast cancer to Washington, D.C., where they testified 
before the Federal Drug Administration, the Federal agency responsible 
for reviewing drug treatments and therapies. Their testimonies helped 
three new drugs win approval for treatment use.
  I congratulate all involved in this vital project, including the 
Houston Ballet, Chrysalis, the Weave Dance Company, Sarah Irwin, Fly, 
Robin Staff, Hope Stone, Shake Russell, and Dana Cooper, who are all 
donating their talents for the Houston show. It is my hope that the Hot 
Pink Houston event will encourage more in our community to join the 
fight against breast cancer.
  The value of the Hot Pink Houston program cannot be overstated. One 
in eight women can expect to develop breast cancer during her lifetime, 
and one in 28 women will die from it. Every 15 minutes, a woman dies 
from breast cancer. During this decade, it is estimated that more than 
1.8 million women, and 12,000 men, will be diagnosed with breast 
cancer. Nearly half a million will die of this disease. Such statistics 
can be numbing, but they are all too real to those of us whose families 
have been affected by breast cancer.
  But the saddest fact of all is that so many of these deaths are 
preventable. With the exception of skin cancer, breast cancer is the 
most survivable of cancers and when detected in its earlier stages, it 
has a 95 percent survival rate. So it is vital that women conduct 
regular breast self-examinations and obtain regular mammograms.
  Because of the tremendous generosity of Pink Ribbon dancers, more 
women will learn about breast cancer and how we can work together to 
save lives.

                          ____________________