[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 155 (Thursday, October 30, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H10135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
(Mr. HENSARLING asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, as has been noted earlier, this October
we recognize the 19th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness
Month. This year alone, more than 200,000 of our mothers, daughters,
sisters, and wives will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and close to
40,000 will die from this dreadful disease.
My wife and I first became aware of National Breast Cancer Awareness
Month through our volunteer work with the American Cancer Society. We
decided to get involved because so many of our friends and families had
been impacted by this terrible disease and we wanted to make a
difference.
Over its short history, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
has successfully raised awareness for the early detection and
prevention of breast cancer. As a result, mammography screening rates
have doubled since 1985, and breast cancer mortality rates have
steadily declined.
Mr. Speaker, the best way for all of us to join in the battle against
breast cancer is to help spread the word to as many women as possible
that early detection saves lives.
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