[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 161 (Monday, November 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            NATIONAL METASTATIC BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 28, 2009

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
House Resolution 787 designating October 13th as National Metastatic 
Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
  At a health care public forum I held in my district on October 25th, 
I had the great pleasure of meeting a woman of true inspiration.
  Kristen Martinez of Colebrook, at the age of 31, was diagnosed with 
Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She had no idea the severe back pains 
and chronic fatigue were clear symptoms of cancer, but they were signs 
the cancer spread to her bones. As she stated, she was forced to face 
her own mortality as diagnosis touched her life during a time when she 
``was on top of the world.''
  Kristen, like many women living with metastatic breast cancer, has 
faced a constant cycle of switching from different treatment methods. 
In her own words, Kristen said ``living with metastatic breast cancer 
has been a journey filled with every emotion one could imagine.'' But 
as a testament to her own personal strength, she has faced the illness 
head-on.
  She has become an advocate on behalf of young woman across our nation 
living with breast cancer. As an active member of the Metastatic Breast 
Cancer Network, Young Survival Coalition, a graduate of the National 
Breast Cancer Coalition's Project Lead and a volunteer patient advocate 
for breast cancer survivors, Kristen has provided motivation and 
encouragement for fellow women facing this debilitating disease.
  In her own right, she has emerged from this battle as a stronger 
woman, devoted to giving back to her community and the young women of 
our nation. I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution with my good 
friend Representative Rosa DeLauro, on behalf of Kristen Martinez and 
over 155,000 women and men who are presently living with metastatic 
breast cancer.

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