[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 156 (Friday, October 31, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. MIKE ROSS

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 30, 2003

  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness 
month, and as this month comes to an end, it is important for us to 
reflect upon the progress we have made toward defeating this illness.
  An increased awareness of the steps necessary to defeat breast 
cancer, including mammography screenings, has led to early detection 
and higher survival rates.
  However, we still have a long way to go. This year nearly 40,000 
women will die of breast cancer, and over 211,000 new cases will be 
diagnosed.
  Unfortunately, many of these cases will be diagnosed, and deaths will 
occur, in communities where access to advanced medicine is limited.
  Congress's commitment to increasing the funding for cancer prevention 
and early detection is helping us battle this disease. Today we can be 
proud of the advancements we have made. But we must continue our 
commitment to defeating breast cancer by raising the public's 
awareness, expanding health care screenings to include all women, and 
continuing to fund the research necessary to fight this disease.