[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 24, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S9112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

 Mrs. CARNAHAN. Mr. President, September is National Ovarian 
Cancer Awareness Month, and I want to draw your attention to some 
sobering facts.
  Ovarian cancer is very difficult to diagnose and even more 
challenging to treat. While it is encouraging that scientific reports 
have shown an improvement in survival rates for women with ovarian 
cancer in recent years, sadly, the 5-year survival rate remains barely 
50 percent. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 25,500 
women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 14,500 women die from the 
disease annually. Poor long-term survival rates are mostly due to the 
lack of a reliable method of detection, with less than one-third of all 
ovarian cancer cases detected at the critical early stages when the 
disease is most treatable.
  Since Congress established the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer 
Research Program, OCRP, in 1997, the program has addressed the urgent 
problem of early detection by funding comprehensive research 
initiatives. The OCRP promotes research in ovarian cancer prevention 
and engages experts from multiple disciplines in genuinely 
collaborative efforts. The innovative proposals funded through the 
program foster new directions in research and strengthen long-term 
ovarian cancer research capabilities and networking among institutions.
  Last year, I was proud to join Senator Landrieu and several of my 
colleagues in sponsoring Senate Resolution 163 designating a week in 
September as ``National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Week.'' This 
resolution passed the Senate unanimously.
  On April 30, I along with many of my colleagues sent a letter to the 
Defense Appropriations Subcommittee leadership requesting that funding 
for the Department of Defense, DOD, Ovarian Cancer Research Program be 
increased to $15 million in fiscal year 2003. While the Senate-passed 
bill did not include this level of funding, it did include $10 million 
for this important project. The House version completely cut funding. 
This funding level is currently being worked out in conference.
  We must remain steadfast in our quest to ultimately conquer this 
terrible disease. I urge my colleagues to heed the slogan of the 
National Ovarian Cancer Coalition: ``Ovarian Cancer . . . It Whispers . 
. . So Listen.'' To the one woman in 55 who will develop this disease 
during her lifetime, let me assure you, I'm listening.

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