[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             RECOGNIZING GYNECOLOGIC CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

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                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 2006

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 473, a resolution recognizing September as the 
seventh annual Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. I and 74 of my 
colleagues have co-sponsored this resolution. We firmly believe that 
raising public awareness, detecting gynecological cancers early, and 
educating women to the risk of reproductive tract cancers are powerful 
methods with which to combat this disease.
  The Gynecological Cancer Foundation (GCF) seeks to promote these 
important goals by leading the Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month 
events and through the Foundation's work year-round. I commend the GCF 
for it efforts and accomplishments to date. I congratulate the GCF on 
the occasion of its 15th anniversary.
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 
27,000 of 71,000 women diagnosed with gynecological cancers succumbed 
to their diseases during 2002. Uterine cancer is the most common among 
women today. Ovarian cancer is the most deadly. Cervical cancer, for 
instance, was a leading cause of death for American women. But medical 
advances and early detection efforts during the last 40 years have 
significantly increased a woman's chances of surviving it. But a 
revealing 2005 GCF poll showed that 45 percent of American women could 
not name a single symptom common to gynecological cancers. Clearly, 
more must be done here.
  Through awareness, early detection, education and better treatment we 
can make more progress toward increasing survival rates for women at 
risk for or diagnosed with gynecological cancers. The passage of H. 
Con. Res. 437 will help improve the rate of early detection of these 
cancers. The passage of H. Con. Res. 437 will also help to save lives. 
Lastly, the adoption of H. Con. Res. 473 will help bolster 
gynecological cancers education and research. Taken together, these 
actions will help researchers and physicians discover better treatments 
and ultimately a cure for these debilitating cancers.
  Raising awareness and early detection coupled with better education 
and treatment programs for women who suffer from gynecological cancers 
is of particular concern to my constituents. Guam does not have an 
oncologist. Most oncology services are thousands of miles away in 
Hawaii or on the mainland. Adequate care and information regarding 
gynecological cancers are similarly inaccessible for women from other 
isolated or rural communities across America. They are at particular 
risk. We must do more to help them.
  I was among thousands of people who stood at the Reflecting Pool on 
the West front of the U.S. Capitol to honor cancer survivors and mourn 
the loss of those who succumbed to the disease last week. Attendees 
were invited to light a candle in memory of survivors and victims of 
cancer. Each candle represented a person's battle, a family's grief, 
and a community's struggle. I memorialized Guam's cancer survivors and 
victims in this way. This Ceremony of Hope was an emotional display of 
strength and optimism. But the sight of a sea of candles flickering 
before us was also a disturbing testimony to the loss and heartbreak 
associated with this dreadful disease.
  I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 473. I would also like 
to take this opportunity to urge the House Energy and Commerce 
Committee to report H.R. 1245, the Cancer Education and Awareness Act. 
H.R. 1245 enjoys the support of 256 members of this body. The bill is 
colloquially known as Johanna's Law, named in memory of Johanna Silver 
Gordon, who lost her life to a battle with ovarian cancer which was not 
diagnosed until it had reached an advanced stage. Johanna's Law would 
make education and outreach on gynecological cancers an ongoing effort 
and a national priority. The House should have an opportunity to vote 
on this bill. Together, H. Con. Res. 473 and H.R. 1245 would do much to 
raise awareness and improve early detection of gynecological cancers 
while facilitating better education and treatment programs for women 
who suffer from gynecological cancers.

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