[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 72 (Thursday, June 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            ONCOLOGY NURSING

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2006

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 
important and essential role oncology nurses play in providing quality 
cancer care. These nurses are principally involved in the 
administration and monitoring of chemotherapy and the associated side-
effects patients experience. As anyone ever treated for cancer will 
tell you, oncology nurses are intelligent, well-trained, highly skilled 
and kind-hearted providers of quality clinical, psychosocial and 
supportive care to patients and their families. In short, they are 
integral to our nation's cancer care delivery system.
  On behalf of the people with cancer and their families in Wisconsin's 
3rd Congressional District, I would like to specifically acknowledge 
Diane Otte from Onalaska, Wisconsin for her service on the Oncology 
Nursing Society Board of Directors and her role as Director of the 
Cancer Center at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare.
  The Oncology Nursing Society has five chapters in my home state of 
Wisconsin. Located in Edgar, Green Bay, Oak Creek, Pewaukee, and 
Madison these chapters serve the oncology nurses in the state and 
support them in their efforts to provide high quality cancer care to 
patients and their families throughout Wisconsin.
  Since 1975, the Oncology Nursing Society has been dedicated to 
excellence in patient care, teaching, research, administration, and 
education in the field of oncology. The Oncology Nursing Society is the 
largest organization of oncology health professionals in the world, 
with more than 33,000 registered nurses and other health care 
professionals. The Society's mission is to promote excellence in 
oncology nursing and quality cancer care. I commend Diane and her 
organization for all that they do in the field of oncology.
  Cancer is a complex, multifaceted and chronic disease, and people 
with cancer are best served by a multidisciplinary health care team 
specializing in oncology care, including nurses who are certified in 
that specialty. According to the American Cancer Society, one in three 
women and one in two men will receive a diagnosis of cancer at some 
point in their lives, and one out of every four deaths in the United 
States results from cancer. This year approximately 26,390 people in 
Wisconsin will be diagnosed with cancer, and another 10,650 will lose 
their battles with this terrible disease. Every day, oncology nurses 
see the pain and suffering caused by cancer and understand the 
physical, emotional, and financial challenges people with cancer face 
throughout their diagnosis and treatment.
  I would like to once again acknowledge and thank Diane Otte for her 
hard work and leadership on the Oncology Nursing Society Board of 
Directors. As a nurse and leader in the field, Diane has made it her 
life's mission to help others and she should be applauded for all she 
has done.

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