[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 146 (Monday, November 7, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H9709-H9713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  GYNECOLOGICAL RESOLUTION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF OVARIAN CANCER EDUCATION

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 444) supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 444

       Resolved, 

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Gynecological Resolution for 
     Advancement of Ovarian Cancer Education''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds that--
       (1) ovarian cancer is a serious and under-recognized threat 
     to women's health;
       (2) ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer 
     death among women living in the United States;
       (3) ovarian cancer is very treatable when it is detected 
     early, but the vast majority of cases are not diagnosed until 
     the cancer has spread beyond the ovaries;
       (4) only 19 percent of ovarian cancer cases in the United 
     States are diagnosed in the early stages;
       (5) in cases where ovarian cancer is detected before it has 
     spread beyond the ovaries, more than 94 percent of women will 
     survive longer than five years;
       (6) many people do not know that ovarian cancer often 
     presents with persistent symptoms such as abdominal pressure, 
     bloating, discomfort, nausea, indigestion, constipation, 
     diarrhea, frequent urination, abnormal bleeding, unusual 
     fatigue, unexplained weight loss or gain, and shortness of 
     breath;
       (7) many people do not know that certain women are at 
     higher risk for developing ovarian cancer if they have risk 
     factors, including increasing age, a personal or family 
     history of ovarian, breast, or colon cancer, and not having 
     had children;
       (8) raising public awareness of ovarian cancer by educating 
     doctors and women about the disease will save lives;
       (9) ovarian cancer research is needed to develop early 
     detection tools, prevention methods, enhanced therapies, and 
     a cure;
       (10) there are still large gaps in knowledge on key 
     scientific aspects of the disease;
       (11) there is still no reliable and easy-to-administer 
     screening test for ovarian cancer;
       (12) President George W. Bush proclaimed September 2005 as 
     National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month; and
       (13) during the month of September, the Ovarian Cancer 
     National Alliance and its 46 State and regional groups held 
     hundreds of events across the country to increase public 
     awareness of the disease.

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       The House of Representatives supports the goals and ideals 
     of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and it is the 
     sense of the House of Representatives that--
       (1) awareness and early recognition of ovarian cancer 
     symptoms are currently the best way to save women's lives; 
     and
       (2) ovarian cancer research should be well-funded so that a 
     reliable screening test can be developed and a cure can be 
     found.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Upton) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton).


                             General Leave

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Res. 444.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 444, the 
Gynecological Resolution for Advancement of Ovarian Cancer Education, 
or ``GRACE's Resolution.'' I would like to thank the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Barton) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) of the 
Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the leadership, for bringing 
this bill directly to the floor today. I would also like to commend the 
author of this legislation our friend, Mr. Hall, for his work in 
Congress to improve health care for all Americans. I know that this is 
a very personal issue that hits so close to home for him, and I fully 
support him in his efforts.
  It is an unfortunate fact that ovarian cancer affects one out of 57 
women. In 2005, it is expected that more than 22,000 women will be 
diagnosed with the disease and an estimated 16,000 will die from it.
  In my own State of Michigan, there are an average of 515 deaths per 
year from ovarian cancer and an average incidence rate of 760 people 
per year.
  Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among 
women in the United States. Fifty percent of women diagnosed with 
ovarian cancer die from it within 5 years. However, if it is detected 
early, the disease, in fact, is very treatable. In cases where ovarian 
cancer is detected before it has spread beyond the ovaries, more than 
90 percent of women will survive longer than 5 years. But sadly, only 
19 percent of ovarian cancer cases in the United

[[Page H9710]]

States are diagnosed in the early stages.
  Unfortunately, ovarian cancer does not share the same positive 
statistics as other cancers. In the most recent report put out by the 
American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American 
Association of Central Cancer Registries, there were many great 
developments in cancer trends. Among men, the incidence rates of all 
cancers were stable from 1995 through 2002. Among women, however, the 
rates increased by 0.3 percent annually from 1987 to 2002. However, 
death rates for men and women decreased 1.1 percent during that same 
period of time.
  While death rates decreased for many cancers, they have stayed 
consistently high for ovarian cancer. As the National Cancer Institute 
statistics demonstrate, a woman's risk of dying from ovarian cancer is 
not less today than it was 10 years ago.
  Education is the key to detecting this cancer early. Currently, 86 
percent of women state that they have little to no knowledge of 
gynecological cancers. Forty-five percent of women are unaware of risk 
factors associated with developing a gynecologic cancer, and 47 percent 
are unable to name any symptoms of gynecological cancers. Perhaps most 
startling, 43 percent of women believe that they are not at risk of 
developing gynecological cancer. As the resolution states, ``Awareness 
and early recognition of ovarian cancer symptoms are currently the best 
way to save women's lives.''
  Early detection of ovarian cancer is possible. In a national study 
done by Dr. Barbara Goff of ovarian cancer patients, 95 percent of 
women had experienced symptoms prior to their diagnosis. We need 
national awareness among the medical community and among women 
themselves that ovarian cancer is not a silent disease, the label that 
it was given many years ago. There are symptoms that can lead to early 
diagnosis when the disease is beatable and obviously then treatable.
  Ovarian cancer often presents with persistent symptoms such as 
abdominal pressure, bloating, discomfort, nausea, indigestion, 
constipation, abnormal bleeding, unusual fatigue, unexplained weight 
loss or gain, and shortness of breath. There are also groups of women 
who are at higher risk of developing the disease. They include women of 
increasing age, women who have a personal or family history of ovarian, 
breast, or colon cancer, and women who have not had children.
  Since these symptoms are so common, ovarian cancer is often a missed 
diagnosis. There are several reasons for patient-related delays in 
diagnosis, including a lack of pain, fear, and ignorance regarding 
cancer symptoms. Additionally, doctors often attribute the symptoms to 
stress, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, or depression. Thirty 
percent of women are treated first for another condition before they 
find out that they have ovarian cancer.
  One of the reasons the survival rate for ovarian cancer remains low 
is that, so far, there is not a reliable test to detect the disease. 
Researchers have determined that the disease is related to the BRCA 
gene, and that women who inherit the BRCA 1 mutated gene have a 20 to 
40 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer.

                              {time}  1500

  Family members diagnosed with ovarian cancer can get a blood test to 
determine if they have the BRCA-mutated gene.
  Researchers around the country, as well as the National Cancer 
Institute, have been working towards a solution; but progress is slow. 
More ovarian cancer research is needed to develop early detection 
tools, prevention methods, enhanced therapies, and obviously a cure.
  There are still large gaps in knowledge on key scientific aspects of 
the disease. For example, we still do not know if all ovarian cancers 
are the same disease. There is still no reliable and easy-to-administer 
screening test for ovarian cancer like the pap smear for cervical 
cancer or the mammogram for breast cancer. Healthy women have no 
alternative for screening but to be aware of the ovarian cancer 
symptoms.
  Research on ovarian cancer is underfunded relative to the high 
mortality rate. In 2002, the National Cancer Institute allocated only 
about one-fifth as much money to ovarian cancer research, $93 million, 
as to breast cancer, $522 million, and one-third as much to prostate 
cancer, $278 million, two diseases whose mortality rates are 
proportionately lower than ovarian cancer.
  I am heartened to see that we are battling these other diseases and 
winning the war over them. We need still to pay a lot of attention to 
the needs of ovarian cancer patients.
  Once again, I would like to commend my friend from Texas (Mr. Hall) 
and all the other cosponsors for bringing this resolution to the floor 
today increasing our awareness of this deadly disease. I would 
encourage my colleagues to adopt this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin).
  (Mr. Levin asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, and I 
am glad we are doing so. My colleague has described what the major 
problem is.
  We have a predicament. Early detection of ovarian cancers most often 
leads to treatment and successful treatment, while late diagnosis makes 
treatment exceptionally difficult.
  We have today 80,000 women who are diagnosed with gynecological 
cancers and about a third or a little more with ovarian cancer; and 
every year about 27,000 women die from the gynecological cancers, and 
about half of those, a little more, from ovarian cancer.
  We need very much to step up to the plate on this vital, vital need; 
and this resolution is important because it helps to call attention to 
this need.
  I do want to point out the need also for us to go further than this. 
A number of us have been working for a number of years to provide some 
Federal resources behind our good intentions.
  The bill, which is called Johanna's Law, would set aside some Federal 
moneys for a national public awareness campaign and also would provide 
grants to local entities and to national groups to help educate women, 
physicians, insurance companies, and everybody else about the need, the 
importance, and the feasibility of early detection of ovarian cancer.
  I hope today will be another step towards not only recognition but 
also action. I congratulate the sponsors of this resolution and all who 
are talking in favor of it.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for 
yielding, and I rise today in support of H. Res. 444, the Gynecological 
Resolution for Advancement of Ovarian Cancer Education, or Grace's 
Resolution, as the acronym goes. I would like to thank Chairman Barton 
and Chairman Deal of the Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the 
leadership, for bringing the resolution to the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, in America, ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause 
of cancer death in women. It afflicts one out of every 57 women, and 
more than 22,000 will be diagnosed with the disease in 2005. Out of 
these 22,000 women, more than 16,000 will die from the disease.
  While Americans have made much progress toward decreasing the 
mortality rate for many other women's cancers, such as cervical, 
uterine and breast cancer, the numbers have remained stubbornly high 
for ovarian cancer. For example, the 5-year survival for breast cancer 
is 98 percent; uterine cancer, 96 percent; cervical cancer, 73 percent. 
Unfortunately, the ovarian cancer 5-year survival rate lags at 44 
percent, Mr. Speaker.
  If it is detected early, the disease is very treatable. In cases 
where ovarian cancer is detected before it has spread beyond the 
ovaries, more than 94 percent of women will survive longer than 5 
years; but, unfortunately, only 19 percent of ovarian cancer cases in 
the United States are diagnosed in the early stages. Ovarian cancer has 
the highest mortality rate of all gynecological cancers. As the 
National Cancer Institute statistics demonstrate, a woman's risk of 
dying from ovarian cancer is not less today than it was 10 years ago.

[[Page H9711]]

  The resolution on the floor today stresses the need for more ovarian 
cancer education. Education is the key to detecting this cancer early. 
Currently, 86 percent of women state that they have little to no 
knowledge of gynecologic cancers. Forty-five percent of women are 
unaware of risk factors associated with developing a GYN cancer, and 45 
percent are unable to name any symptoms of gynecological cancers. 
Perhaps most startling, 43 percent of women believe that they are not 
at risk of developing gynecological cancer.
  Fortunately, researchers have discovered several common symptoms of 
the disease; but, Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, ovarian cancer often 
first presents with little or no symptoms. Persistent symptoms such as 
abdominal pressure, bloating, discomfort, nausea, indigestion, 
constipation, abnormal bleeding, unusual fatigue, unexplained weight 
loss or gain, and shortness of breath usually occur and they increase 
over time; but these are all particularly late in the disease process.
  There are also groups of women who are at higher risk of developing 
the disease. They include women over the age of 50, women who have a 
personal or a family history of ovarian, breast, or colon cancer and 
women who have had children after the age of 30 for the first time.
  Ovarian cancer, however, is often a missed disease by patients and 
doctors alike. While a woman can have a mammography to detect breast 
cancer and they can have a pap smear to detect cervical cancer, there 
is currently no reliable, reasonably priced and readily accessible 
screening test for ovarian cancer. There are still large gaps in 
knowledge on key scientific aspects of the disease. At present, healthy 
women, their best alternative for screening is to be aware of ovarian 
cancer symptoms and to have an annual physical and pelvic exam done by 
their physician.
  This resolution commends men and women across the country who are 
working to increase awareness of this disease. President Bush 
proclaimed September as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month; and 
during that month, 46 States and local groups held hundreds of events 
across the country to increase public awareness of the disease. It also 
stresses that ovarian cancer research should be well funded so that a 
reliable screening test can be developed and a cure can be found.
  I especially want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) for 
bringing the resolution to the floor today.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of H. Res. 444. Grace Warren is our colleague and long-time 
legislative director to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall). He is my 
friend, and she is my friend.
  Grace's struggle and the struggle of her family and friends remind us 
that everyone can be touched by a woman's disease.
  My college roommate, a great friend, a caring friend, Catholic Irish, 
young, blue-eyed girl, strong in her faith, a wonderful mother, devoted 
wife, lost her battle with ovarian cancer in 2001.
  As the gentleman stated earlier, according to the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, more than 22,000 women will be newly diagnosed 
with ovarian cancer in 2005. As the House considers H. Res. 444 today, 
approximately 44 women will die of ovarian cancer.
  Despite being the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths among women, 
the battle against ovarian cancer is handicapped by a lack of public 
information, gaps in scientific knowledge, and an NIH research budget 
funding increase in 2005 that does not even keep up with inflation.
  I come before my colleagues today because I strongly believe in 
research, and not only is this a colleague and friend, but as a nurse 
and cancer survivor I feel very strongly about this resolution. It 
makes it known that Congress recognizes the hopes and fears of ovarian 
cancer patients everywhere.
  In all things, education is the key to our future. For the one woman 
in every 58 women in this country who is at risk of developing ovarian 
cancer in her lifetime, public awareness and early diagnosis are the 
keys to her survival.
  The Members of this body work daily to ensure the health and well-
being of the citizens who have chosen them to represent them. Surely, 
we can join together with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) to 
acknowledge the value of medical research, health education and public 
awareness of ovarian cancer in saving the lives of so many.
  My prayers and best wishes go to Grace Warren, and I urge my 
colleagues to support this most worthy resolution.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I think some of the statistics that have been spoken here on the 
floor do bear repeating because they are not widely known either in the 
medical community or among the citizenry of our country.
  Ovarian cancer is more common than many believe. One out of 57 women 
will have an occurrence. It is expected that 22,200 will be diagnosed 
with the disease this year, again, something that is not widely known, 
near epidemic proportions here.
  It is, as those speakers who preceded me have said, difficult to 
diagnose because of subtle symptoms, and they can be confused with 
other diseases.
  It is key that we better inform the medical community, key that we 
begin to invest more money in research toward a test which could more 
reliably detect the cancer; and if we are successful there, we will 
dramatically increase survival rates. Early detection causes a dramatic 
chance in a woman's minimum 5-year survival possibility.
  It is key that we invest in those areas, and we are not. Ovarian 
cancer is rather dramatically underfunded relative to its high 
mortality rate.
  In 2004, the National Cancer Institute allocated only about 20 
percent as much funding to ovarian cancer research as to breast cancer 
research, not that breast cancer should be minimized, but I think we 
should be investing more in both for humane purposes and for avoiding 
huge medical costs and complications as these diseases progress to more 
serious stages. Unfortunately, there was only about a third as much as 
was allocated to prostate cancer, again, not that we should reduce 
prostate cancer research, but we should increase ovarian cancer 
research and the others.

                              {time}  1515

  These are investments we are making in the health and well-being of 
the American people. They ultimately will be not only lifesaving, but 
cost saving. They are good investments to make, even in tough economic 
and budgetary times.
  So I am hopeful that the passage of this resolution will lead not 
only to more education among our populace, but more education in the 
medical community, better diagnostic tools and more money invested in 
research.
  To paraphrase former Vice President Gore, this is not just a women's 
disease. Everyone has a grandmother or a mother. It is someone's spouse 
or sister or aunt or friend who are afflicted by this disease, and in 
that we all cannot feel their pain, but we understand how life changing 
or how horrible this disease can be for the individuals and for their 
families.
  With that, I urge my colleagues to urge the resolution, and in the 
near future to support increases in funding for finding better ways to 
detect and cure this disease.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Hall), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the 
sponsor of the legislation.
  Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time, and 
I thank the gentleman from Oregon for his kind and informative 
information.
  I, of course, rise in support of H. Res. 444. I refer to it as 
``Grace's Resolution.'' It has been so referred to several times. I 
thank Chairman Barton, Chairman Deal, Ranking Member Sherrod Brown and 
all the leadership for bringing this very important bill directly to 
the floor and the attention of all Members.
  This fall, the American public has been engaged in quite a few public 
awareness campaigns for cancer related to women, including breast and 
cervical cancer. During September, the

[[Page H9712]]

Nation also recognized Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and groups held 
hundreds of events across the country to increase public awareness of 
this terrible disease.
  While it is heartening to see that Americans' risk of dying from 
cancer continues to decline every year, it is unfortunate that ovarian 
cancer does not follow this trend. In fact, the Ovarian Cancer 
Institute statistics demonstrate a woman's risk of dying from ovarian 
cancer is no less today than it was 10 years ago.
  It is an unfortunate fact that ovarian cancer is the fourth leading 
cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Currently, 50 
percent of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer do not make it for 5 
years. The disease is very treatable when detected early, but 81 
percent of cases are diagnosed late, after the cancer has spread beyond 
the ovaries. There are still large gaps in knowledge on key aspects of 
the disease and there is not a reliable screening test that can help 
diagnose the disease at an earlier stage.
  The resolution before the House today outlines common symptoms of the 
disease, including abdominal pressure, nausea, indigestion, unusual 
fatigue and unexplained weight loss or gain. Women are more at risk if 
they have a personal or family history of ovarian, breast or colon 
cancer, have not had children or are of increasing age.
  The resolution supports further research to develop early detection 
tools, prevention methods, therapies and a cure. Unfortunately, funding 
for ovarian cancer research decreased from fiscal year 2003 to fiscal 
year 2004 by $7 million. Other than a $1 million decrease for prostrate 
cancer, no other cancer received a decrease in the same period.
  As a Nation, we need to turn these grim statistics around. I would 
like to call on appropriators to adequately fund ovarian cancer 
research, and I would like to see the National Cancer Institute step up 
their efforts to find an early detection test.
  I have a very personal interest in making ovarian cancer research a 
top priority. My long-time legislative director, Grace Warren, my 
friend, friend of my wife's, friend of our family's, is battling this 
terrible disease. Many on Capitol Hill have worked with Grace Warren 
and know that I have always referred to her as ``Amazing Grace.'' Some 
even said that the Baptists had named a song about ``Amazing Grace.'' I 
am not sure.
  Grace was with me some 24 years, with Ray Roberts, my predecessor, 19 
years, and I have always thought she worked for Mr. Rayburn, but I was 
afraid to ask her.
  Grace devoted her entire career to Capitol Hill. She walked right off 
the high school stage on to Capitol Hill when she was 18 years old and 
has been here and given her life to it. Her specialty is health care 
policy, and all those who are familiar with the work of the Health 
Subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee know Grace as both a 
policy expert and as a friend.
  Grace's battle with ovarian cancer has been going on for 2 years now, 
and she has taken up the call for advocacy, even in retirement and as 
she undergoes treatment. She is working with South Carolina and 
national ovarian cancer awareness groups to bring this disease to the 
forefront of our attention and to call for affirmative action.
  For Grace and all the women who fight this disease every day, I say 
to you that we will keep fighting. I ask my colleagues to support this 
goal and to support increased funding, and I ask all of those who know 
me to join in prayer for her recovery and recovery for those who suffer 
the same illness.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and am prepared to 
yield back, with one brief comment to my friend from Texas.
  I am sure that everybody here in this Chamber does know somebody who 
has suffered with ovarian cancer. Hopefully this bill, the ``Grace 
Bill,'' will make it a few less down the road. We appreciate the 
gentleman's leadership and her continued charge for this legislation as 
well.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House 
Resolution 444--a resolution I am proud to be a co-sponsor of--offered 
by my good friend Congressman Ralph Hall of Texas. H. Res. 444 is a 
straightforward bill which expresses the House of Representatives' 
support for the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness 
Month.
  Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers, and it is 
the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women living in the 
United States. Currently, half the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer 
die within 5 years. This is a national tragedy, and what makes it even 
more tragic is the fact that many of those deaths could have been 
prevented if more women and their doctors knew the risk factors and 
recognized the early warning signs of ovarian cancer and other 
gynecological cancers.
  When it is detected early, ovarian cancer is very treatable, 
unfortunately, as I mentioned, ovarian cancer is one of the most 
difficult cancers to diagnose because symptoms are sometimes subtle and 
maybe easily confused with those of other diseases. As a result, only 
29 percent of ovarian cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed in the 
early stages. When the disease is detected before it has spread beyond 
the ovaries, more than 95 percent of women will survive longer than 5 
years. But, in cases where the disease is not detected until it reaches 
the advanced stage, the 5-year survival rate plummets to a devastating 
25 percent.
  As there is still no reliable and easy-to-administer screening test 
for ovarian cancer, like the Pap smear for cervical cancer or the 
mammogram for breast cancer, early recognition of symptoms is dearly 
the best way to save a woman's live. Without increased education about 
ovarian cancer and recognition of women who are at higher risk for 
developing ovarian cancer, many women and their doctors will continue 
to ignore or misinterpret the symptoms of the disease.
  Along with many of our colleagues, I know first-hand how terrible 
cancer can be and how easily this insidious disease can be 
misdiagnosed. I applaud Congressman Hall's tireless efforts to raise 
awareness of this terrible disease and I urge all of my colleagues to 
support this resolution.
  I hope before this Congress adjourns for the year that we can follow-
up this critically important legislation with a vote on Johanna's law, 
the Gynecologic Cancer Education Act--H.R. 1245. Johanna's law takes 
the logical next step by directing the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services to carry out a national campaign to increase the awareness and 
knowledge of women with respect to gynecologic cancers, which shall 
include: (1) Maintaining a supply of written materials to provide 
information to the public on gynecologic cancers; and (2) developing 
and placing public service announcements to encourage women to discuss 
their risks of gynecologic cancers with their physicians. The bill also 
requires the Secretary to award grants to nonprofit private entities to 
test different outreach and education strategies for increasing such 
awareness among women and health professionals.
  With a national public service announcements campaign describing risk 
factors and symptoms and encouraging women to talk to their doctors 
about their risk of gynecological cancers, I am confident that we can 
increase early detection of these deadly cancers, and, when possible, 
help women reduce their risk of ever contracting them in the first 
place.
  Any woman is at risk for developing a gynecologic cancer. We owe it 
to our mothers, our wives and our daughters to do all we can to both 
raise awareness of these terrible diseases and to fund the research 
necessary to stamp out this kind of cancer once and for all.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
Gynecological Resolution for Advancement of Ovarian Cancer Education. 
Ovarian cancer, the deadliest of the gynecological cancers, is the 
fourth leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S. About 
25,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S. each year, 
and about 16,000 women die of ovarian cancer each year.
  Early detection is the key to successful treatment of gynecologic 
cancers. The 5-year survival rates for the most common gynecologic 
cancers are 90 percent when diagnosed early, but drop to 50 percent or 
less for cancer diagnosed in later stages. However, the disease is 
difficult to detect in its early stages. Only about 29 percent of 
ovarian cancers are found before tumor growth spreads to tissues and 
organs beyond the ovaries.
  Gynecologic cancers such as ovarian and endometrial cancer do not yet 
have a reliable screening test that can be used for the general 
population. Moreover, most women are still unaware of risk factors and 
the early symptoms of gynecologic cancers.
  Women of color have worse outcomes in regard to ovarian cancer and 
other gynecological cancers. Better education and awareness, more 
funding for

[[Page H9713]]

research, and addressing systemic problems within the health care 
system are essential to consider. Reducing cancer in minority and 
underserved populations is facilitated by the . mobilization of 
professional and lay leaders in the community to address the specific 
cancer needs of that community as well as through coalition building 
among health-related, academic, and community organizations.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
444, Gynecological Resolution for Advancement of Ovarian Cancer 
Education. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer is a serious and under-
recognized threat to women's health. According to recent studies: 
Ovarian cancer, the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers, is the fourth 
leading cause of cancer death among women living in the U.S. Ovarian 
cancer occurs in 1 out of 57 women. It is expected that 22,220 women 
will be diagnosed with the disease in 2005. An estimated 16,210 
American women will die from ovarian cancer in 2005. All females are at 
risk for ovarian cancer.
  Fortunately, ovarian cancer is very treatable when it is detected 
early, but the vast majority of cases are not diagnosed until the 
cancer has spread beyond the ovaries. Ovarian cancer may be difficult 
to diagnose because symptoms are sometimes subtle and may be easily 
confused with those of other diseases. In cases where ovarian cancer is 
detected before it has spread beyond the ovaries, more than 94 percent 
of women will survive longer than five years. Only 19 percent of 
ovarian cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed in the early stages. The 
chances for five-year survival for an advanced stage diagnosis is 
approximately 29 percent. The overall 5-year survival rate for all 
stages is 44 percent.
  It is important that we create additional public awareness of ovarian 
cancer by educating doctors and women about the disease. By doing this 
we can save lives. Currently, studies show that most people do not know 
the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Many include, abdominal pressure, 
bloating, or discomfort; nausea, indigestion, or gas; constipation, 
diarrhea, or frequent urination; abnormal bleeding; unusual fatigue; 
unexplained weight loss or gain; shortness of breath. Symptoms are 
subtle, persistent, and usually increase over time. Early recognition 
of symptoms is the best way to save women's lives. Without increased 
education about ovarian cancer, many women and their doctors will 
continue to ignore or misinterpret the symptoms of the disease. 
Recognition of women who are at higher risk for developing ovarian 
cancer is also important. Risk factors include: increasing age, 
personal or family history of ovarian, breast, or colon cancer, and not 
bearing a child. Ninety percent of women diagnosed do not have a family 
history that puts them at a higher risk for ovarian cancer.
  In closing let say that research on ovarian cancer is drastically 
under-funded relative to its high mortality rate. In 2002, the NCI 
allocated only about one-fifth as much money to ovarian cancer research 
($93.5 million) as to breast cancer research ($522.6 million), and one-
third as much as to prostate cancer research ($278.4 million), two 
diseases whose mortality rates are proportionally extremely lower than 
ovarian cancer.
  Early detection of ovarian cancer is possible. In a national study 
done by Dr. Barbara Goff of ovarian cancer patients, 95 percent of 
women had experienced symptoms prior to their diagnosis. We need 
national awareness among the medical community and among women 
themselves that ovarian cancer is not a ``silent disease'' the label it 
was given years ago--there are symptoms that can lead to early 
diagnosis when the disease is beatable and treatable. Yet, each and 
every day women with this disease are treated for incorrect conditions 
in the pelvic and abdominal region, with a full 30 percent being 
treated for the incorrect condition before receiving the eventual 
diagnosis of ovarian cancer
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 444, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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