[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1123]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ONCOLOGY NURSING MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 22, 2007

  Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the 
important and essential role that oncology nurses play in providing 
quality cancer care and to recognize May as ``Oncology Nursing Month.'' 
Oncology nurses are the health professionals involved in the 
administration and monitoring of chemotherapy and managing the 
associated side-effects patients may experience. As anyone who has ever 
been treated for cancer will tell you, oncology nurses are intelligent, 
well-trained, highly skilled, kind-hearted angels who provide quality 
clinical, psychosocial, and supportive care to patients and their 
families. Every day, oncology nurses see the pain and suffering caused 
by cancer and understand the physical, emotional, and financial 
challenges that people with cancer face throughout their diagnosis and 
treatment. In short, they are integral to our Nation's cancer care 
delivery system.
  Cancer is a complex, multifaceted and chronic disease. People with 
cancer are best served by a multidisciplinary health care team 
specializing in oncology care, including nurses who are certified in 
that specialty. 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. Today, more than 
two-thirds of cancer cases strike people over the age of 65, and the 
number of Medicare beneficiaries is projected to double in the coming 
years. Last year approximately 138,680 people in California were 
diagnosed with cancer and another 55,960 lost their battles with this 
terrible disease.
  Since 1975, the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) has been dedicated to 
excellence in patient care, teaching, research, administration, and 
education in the field of oncology. ONS is the largest organization of 
oncology health professionals in the world, with more than 35,000 
registered nurses and other health care professionals. The Society's 
mission is to promote excellence in oncology nursing and quality cancer 
care. I am pleased that ONS has 19 chapters in California which support 
oncology nurses in their efforts to provide high quality cancer care to 
patients and their families throughout our state. I commend ONS and its 
members for their steadfast commitment to improving and ensuring access 
to quality cancer care for all people with cancer.
  I am proud to support the goals and ideals ONS and I urge my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing oncology nurses for their 
communities not only in May, but year-round.

                          ____________________