[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 29, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING NATIONAL MINORITY CANCER AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2008

  Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend 
my remarks to recognize National Minority Cancer Awareness Week.
  Cancer continues to devastate American families throughout the United 
States. The Congressional District I represent lies in the Cancer belt 
of California, with increase in the number of cases diagnosed every 
day. Minorities in my area continue to be significantly impacted and 
every day are faced with the question of what to do and how to pay for 
costly treatments.
  National Minority Cancer Awareness Week is recognized on the third 
week of April to raise awareness of the alarming incidence and effects 
cancer has amongst the minorities. This awareness contributes to much 
needed outreach education to those most affected.
  High cancer rates among minorities are a widely known fact, and sadly 
due in large part to the health disparities in access to high quality 
prevention, early detection and treatment services.
  In Congress, I have continued my efforts in combating Breast Cancer 
by partnering with Senator Dianne Feinstein in reauthorizing the Breast 
Cancer Research Stamp for another two years. Without research we are 
all in the dark. Thanks to this stamp, research for breast cancer has 
increased by over $50 million.
  Increasing awareness is vital at a time when we are facing cuts in 
Medicaid funding to States, and a shortage of funding to important 
programs like S-CHIP and WIC. Families need to realize that cancer does 
strike disproportionately in the minority community.
  Sadly, many patients find out about a cancer diagnosis after it is 
too late. This is especially tragic when we know that only about 5 
percent of all cancers are strongly hereditary, most cancers result in 
damage (mutation) to genes that occur during one's lifetime, according 
to the American Cancer Society.
  African Americans have the highest death rate for all cancers than 
any other group. In fact, African American men are twice as likely to 
die from prostate cancer as white men. The American Cancer Society also 
reports that an estimated 152,000 African Americans will be diagnosed 
and more than 62,000 African Americans will die from cancer this year.
  For Hispanics in the United States, the data is just as alarming. 
Cancer is the second leading cause of death for Hispanics in the United 
States. Moreover, cancer rates are higher for Hispanics for the cancers 
of the stomach, liver, cervix, and gallbladder.
  These are alarming statistics that are only a reflection of the 
devastating effects of cancer in our minority communities. Cancer 
touches the lives of not just only the patients, but the family as 
well.
  American families are the backbone of our society, it is essential 
that we help them in any way we can. Increased research and educational 
outreach is the first step.
  We are all facing the detrimental effects of the skyrocketing gas 
prices and a devastating number of foreclosures; these families 
affected with cancer especially need our help. No one should have to 
choose between paying for medicine and paying for gas to get to a 
doctor's appointment.

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