[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR GREATER AWARENESS OF OVARIAN CANCER

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                               speech of

                          HON. MARY JO KILROY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 1, 2009

  Ms. KILROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 727, 
which supports the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer 
Awareness Month.
  We all know someone who has been diagnosed with cancer and understand 
the devastating impact that diagnosis can have on the patient and his 
or her family. Although we have made great strides in recent years in 
finding new treatments for those afflicted with cancer, ovarian cancer 
continues to be difficult to diagnose and when discovered in later 
stages, the survival rate is lower than 45 percent. Ovarian cancer 
silently spreads because we cannot reliably screen for it and because 
its symptoms are common with other diseases.
  As an original cosponsor of H.R. 1816, the ``Ovarian Cancer Biomarker 
Research Act,'' introduced by my friend and colleague Representative 
Berman, I believe we should encourage collaboration between the federal 
government and institutions conducting invaluable research on 
biomarkers for use in risk stratification for, and the early detection 
and screening of, ovarian cancer. These types of initiatives will 
ensure that the United States remains a leader in medical breakthroughs 
and innovations.
  We must continue to support funding for research into ovarian cancer, 
so that we may one day find a cure. We also must devote the necessary 
resources into developing new screening technology for cancers like 
ovarian cancer which all too often are found late. Equally important, 
all women and men need to educate themselves about ovarian cancer so 
that we save our own lives or those of our loved ones.
  I want to commend Representative Israel for introducing this 
important resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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