[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 129 (Wednesday, November 15, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         GYNECOLOGIC CANCER EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 14, 2006

  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week the House of 
Representatives passed H.R. 1245, known as ``Johanna's Law,'' which 
will increase the awareness and knowledge of gynecologic cancers. This 
legislation authorizes a national campaign to increase awareness of 
gynecologic cancers--including the creation of written information to 
distribute to the public.
  This legislation was named after a constituent of mine, Johanna, who 
was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1997. Johanna was a healthy and 
active 54-year-old woman who had retired from teaching from Southfield 
Lathrup High School when she was diagnosed. It was a shock to Johanna 
and her family when they received the devastating news. Sadly, the 
cancer was not caught in time and she passed away on August 29, 2000.
  Each year, more than 80,000 women are diagnosed with a gynecologic 
cancer. One-third--or 28,000--of these women will die from the disease. 
Survival rates drop 50 percent or less if the cancer is not diagnosed 
early.
  Early detection is critical to successfully treat gynecologic 
cancers. Many symptoms of this type of cancer often resemble non-
threatening illnesses. Furthermore, many gynecologic cancers do not 
have a reliable screening test for the general public to utilize.
  It is important that we educate the American public on early 
detection and prevention of gynecologic cancers. Public awareness is 
crucial to curbing this deadly disease, and Johanna's Law will help 
spread knowledge that can save the lives of women that may die 
needlessly each year. I thank my colleagues for supporting the passage 
of ``Johanna's Law.''

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