[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S4615]]
                     REPORT TO THE NATION ON CANCER

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, this past February Senator Gordon 
Smith and I introduced the National Cancer Act of 2002 with a 
bipartisan group of 28 cosponsors. This comprehensive bill, based 
largely on the recommendations of an advisory committee of cancer 
experts, is meant to update and reinvigorate the nation's war on 
cancer; a war President Nixon launched in 1971.
  The need for our bill is greater and more urgent than ever before. 
Last week, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, 
the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute 
on Aging collectively released their joint Annual Report to the Nation 
on the Status of Cancer, 1973-1999.
  The bottom line is that cancer death rates are declining--that's the 
good news. People are living longer with cancer; we are increasing the 
ranks of ``cancer survivors.'' In 1997, we had approximately 8.9 
million cancer survivors. This number continues to increase. But the 
incidence of cancer is increasing. That is the bad news. As our 
population ages, more and more people are being diagnosed with the 
disease. Researchers suggest that if this pattern continues, by the 
year 2050 there could be twice as many people being diagnosed with 
cancer each year as there are now. This year, about 1.3 million people 
will be diagnosed with cancer. By 2050, this number could reach 2.6 
million.
  That is why I introduced the National Cancer Act of 2002. It is a new 
battle plan for conquering cancer. My legislation focuses on finding 
better treatments and a cure for cancer by investing more funding in 
cancer research and clinical trials, and ensuring access to early 
detection and prevention measures. The challenges are plenty. But I 
believe, now more than ever, that a cure is within our reach.
  This report being released today represents the fifth report of its 
kind, but it is the first report issued that documents a decline in 
cancer death rates. This is good news. While routine screening has 
improved the prognosis for cancer patients, and more people are getting 
screened, cancer still occurs disproportionately among older persons. 
As baby boomers age, the incidence of cancer will undoubtedly increase 
among this population. This population presents us with certain 
challenges and an increased burden on the system. More people will 
require cancer treatment, supportive and palliative care, home health 
services, general medical attention, and nursing services.
  Finding cures and better treatments for cancers will demand more 
attention to be placed on the biology of older persons. For example, 
older persons are less likely to be enrolled in a clinical trial. There 
is also limited knowledge of drug interactions. Will a person's cancer 
medication interact with that person's heart medication? These are just 
a few of the challenges. Finding a cure is within our reach. We must 
continue to focus funding on this goal. At the same time, there is an 
increased need for developing new strategies for prevention and early 
detection, looking in particular at age-specific interventions.
  For 8 years I have co-chaired the Senate Cancer Coalition. We have 
held eight hearings on cancer. With each hearing, I become more and 
more convinced that with adequate resources we can find a cure. Polls 
by Research America show that the public wants their tax dollars spent 
on medical research. In fact, people will pay more in taxes for more 
medical research.
  Cancer affects everyone. Everyone knows someone who has had cancer or 
will have cancer. I am thoroughly convinced that if we just marshal the 
resources, we can conquer cancer in the 21st century. The report 
released today is a clarion call for making the effort.

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