[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 134 (Friday, October 11, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           BENIGN BRAIN TUMOR CANCER REGISTRIES AMENDMENT ACT

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                               speech of

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 10, 2002

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to have witnessed real, grass 
root's effort and hard work come to fruition in the passage of S. 2558, 
The Benign Brain Tumor Cancer Registries Amendment Act, by unanimous 
consent of the House this evening.
  In January of 2001, I introduced H.R. 239, The Benign Brain Tumor 
Cancer Registries Amendment Act. A little over a year later, Senator 
Jack Reed introduced the Senate companion, S. 2558.
  The origin of this bill goes back to my constituent, Lloyd Morgan, a 
brain tumor survivor. Lloyd is from Berkeley, and I first met him at a 
town hall meeting.
  That day, Mr. Morgan brought to my attention the fact the National 
Program of Cancer Registries does not collect data on benign brain 
tumors and the critical problems that this public health oversight 
creates.
  I agreed to introduce legislation to correct the problem and soon 
after introduced The Benign Brain Tumor Cancer Registries Amendment 
Act.
  The bill is very simple. With the passage of S. 2558, ``benign'' 
brain tumors will for the first time be included in the data collection 
of cancer registries. Medical system organizations use cancer data in 
funding decisions, investigations, research, and care facilities. 
Because data is not being collected on benign brain tumors, these 
tumors do not receive critical research funding. Of course, lack of 
research directly impacts both survivors and patients.
  Additional research is vital because of the threat to life that both 
benign and cancerous brain tumors present. Brain tumors are the second 
leading cause of cancer death for children and the third leading cause 
of cancer death in young adults ages 15-34. The greatest increase in 
brain tumors has been among people 75 years of age or older.
  Only 37 percent of males and 52 percent of females survive five years 
following the diagnosis of a primary benign or malignant brain tumor. 
Each year, approximately 100,000 people in the United States are 
diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumors. Nationwide, the 
incidence of brain tumors has increased by 25 percent since 1975 and 
the reasons for this increase are unknown.
  For many types of tumors, the distinction between benign and 
malignant is significant. For tumors of the brain, this distinction is 
not as clear. A tumor, whether malignant or benign, is a collection of 
cells that grow as rapidly as malignant tumors, however based on 
location and size, even benign brain tumors can be life threatening.
  Benign brain tumors account for almost 40 percent of all brain 
tumors. Not including these tumors in the cancer registry 
underestimates the incidence of brain tumors in the general population. 
All brain tumors, both cancerous and benign, are potentially life 
threatening.
  What would the passage of the Benign Brain Tumor Cancer Registries 
Act mean for my constituent Lloyd Morgan? In his words it means: ``that 
the doctors pronounced that would surely end my life within days or 
hours of discovery (they were afraid to move me by gurney to surgery 
because my brain was about to split in two) will now be counted. It 
also means that Jan McCormack who has watched her sister Carla 
deteriorate and is now on a death watch in hospice care from a 
``benign'' brain tumor will be assured that her sister's tumors and 
ultimate death will also be counted. It means that Jeff Licht' 
situation where his ``benign'' brain tumor has come back 4 times after 
it was ``completely'' removed the first time will provide data on re-
occurrence. And it means that for countless others who suffer 
devastating brain deficits and shortened lives because of ``benign'' 
brain tumors will now have their tumors and their untimely deaths 
count. And by counting and having information on these ``benign'' brain 
tumors we may finally find the information that has been missing to 
point the way toward causation and therefore prevention of these 
devastating illnesses.''
  I sincerely appreciate Mr. Morgan for bringing this significant 
public health oversight to my attention, and for his tireless efforts 
in support of the legislation we initiated and ultimately passed here 
on the floor of the House tonight.
  The passage of this bill truly represents democracy in action.




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