[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 175 (Monday, December 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE SURVIVORS AND RAISING 
                      AWARENESS OF CERVICAL CANCER

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                          HON. MARK E. SOUDER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 
and today I have introduced a resolution to recognize the survivors of 
cervical cancer and to raise awareness of cervical cancer, including 
the importance of prevention, early diagnosis and treatment.
  Each year in the United States, approximately 12,200 women are 
diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,100 women die from the disease. 
Worldwide, cervical cancer affects approximately 288,000 women 
annually, and in some parts of the world, cervical cancer is the most 
common cancer in women.
  Clinical studies have confirmed that the human papillomavirus (HPV) 
is the cause of nearly all cervical cancer. In addition, HPV is 
associated with more than 1 million precancerous lesions of varying 
severity. With 20 million Americans believed to be infected, HPV is one 
of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. 
An estimated 5.5 million people become infected with HPV every year. 
Not everyone infected with HPV will develop cancer but those with 
persistent, high risk strains of HPV are at increased risk as are their 
partners.
  However, the majority of women are unaware of these facts. In a 
recent survey, 70 percent of women were unable to name the cause of 
cervical cancer, and 76 percent had never heard of HPV.
  Many also confuse treatment with prevention. While treatment can 
prevent the progression of cervical disease or death from cervical 
cancer, treatment is not prevention of the presence of disease. 
Furthermore, treatment can often be invasive, unpleasant, and costly 
and not preclude the necessity for additional treatments.
  Cervical cancer is treated using surgery, radiation and chemotherapy; 
sometimes two or more methods are used. The most common types of 
surgery include cryosurgery, laser surgery, cone biopsy, simple 
hysterectomy, radical hysterectomy and pelvis lymph node dissection, 
and pelvic exenteration. Radiation therapy may involve external 
radiation or internal radiation (radioactive materials implanted in the 
tumor).
  Treatment for cervical dysplasia--a premalignant or precancerous 
change in the cells of the cervix that may progress to cancer--include 
surgery, cone biopsy, cryosurgery, laser surgery, and electrosurgery.
  The direct medical cost of treating a patient with cervical cancer is 
$9,200 to $13,360, while surgery to remove a precancerous lesion is 
$1,100 to $4,360. The financial burden of HPV in the United States has 
been estimated to range from $1.6 billion to $6 billion annually, 
making HPV one of the most costly sexually transmitted diseases after 
HIV/AIDS.
  To alleviate the burden of these costs to women who are faced with 
the threat of cervical cancer, Congress approved Public Law 106-354 in 
2000 allowing states to provide medical assistance through Medicaid to 
eligible women who were screened for and found to have breast or 
cervical cancer, including precancerous conditions, through the 
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
  The best protection against cervical cancer and cervical disease, 
however, remains prevention of HPV infection. Public Law 106-554, also 
approved by Congress in 2000, directs the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration to take action to 
educate the public about HPV. The law specifically requires CDC to 
issue a report on HPV not later than December 21, 2003, ``including a 
detailed summary of the significant findings and problems and best 
strategies to prevent future infections, based on the available 
science.''
  With Cervical Cancer Awareness Month just weeks away, the statutory 
release date mandated for the CDC HPV prevention report is well timed 
to allow all members of Congress, federal agencies, health care 
professionals and the public to educate themselves and others about 
HPV. During this month, we should also recognize the survivors of HPV 
and cervical cancer who have shown tremendous courage and determination 
in the face of adversity.

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