[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 30, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2183-E2184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              BREAST CANCER PATIENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2007

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                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 29, 2008

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
758, the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2007. This important 
legislation will ensure that patients have the health care they need 
following breast cancer surgery.
  In America, there are more than 2.4 million women living with breast 
cancer. In 2007, more than 178,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer 
were diagnosed. The Breast

[[Page E2184]]

Cancer Patient Protection Act would help ensure that these patients 
will have adequate support after breast cancer surgery by guaranteeing 
a minimum hospital stay of 48 hours for a woman having a mastectomy or 
lumpectomy and 24 hours for a woman undergoing a lymph node removal. 
Anyone who has watched a loved one fight this illness understands that 
the last thing any woman should be doing at that time is fighting with 
her insurance company.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 
758. With millions of women in American being affected by this horrible 
disease, the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act will ensure they have 
access to adequate medical support after their surgery.

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