[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 20, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H204-H206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EARLY DETECTION MONTH FOR BREAST CANCER
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 158) expressing support for the
designation of an Early Detection Month for breast cancer and all forms
of cancer, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 158
Whereas in 2009, 1,479,350 new cases of cancer will be
diagnosed in the United States;
Whereas the most common types of cancer in the United
States are nonmelanoma skin cancer, breast cancer in women,
prostate cancer in men, lung cancer, and colorectal cancers;
Whereas one out of every eight women in the United States
will develop breast cancer in her lifetime;
Whereas incidence of breast cancer in young women is much
lower than in older women, and young women's breast cancers
are generally more aggressive and result in lower survival
rates;
Whereas breast cancer currently takes the life of one woman
in the United States every 13 minutes;
Whereas in 2009, 192,370 women in the United States will be
diagnosed with invasive breast cancer;
Whereas there is currently no known cure for metastatic
breast cancer;
Whereas many oncologists and breast cancer researchers
believe that a cure for breast cancer will not be discovered
until well into the future, if such a cure is possible at
all;
Whereas prostate cancer is the second leading cause of
cancer death among men, with over 80 percent of all cases
occurring in men over age 65;
Whereas African-American men are diagnosed with the disease
at later stages and die of prostate cancer more often than do
white men;
Whereas in 2009, 1,910 men in the United States will be
diagnosed with invasive breast cancer;
Whereas if detected early enough, over three-quarters of
those who develop cancer could be saved;
Whereas greater annual awareness of the critical necessity
of the early detection of breast cancer and other cancers
will not only save tens of thousands of lives but also
greatly reduce the financial strain on government and private
health care services by detecting cancer before it requires
very expensive medical treatment and protocols;
Whereas there is a need for enhanced public awareness of
cancer screening; and
Whereas the designation of an Early Detection Month will
enhance public awareness of breast cancer and all other forms
of cancer: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress supports the designation of an
Early Detection Month to enhance public awareness of
screening for breast cancer and all other forms of cancer.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schock)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.
General Leave
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and add any extraneous materials.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Massachusetts?
There was no objection.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
On behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am
proud to present House Concurrent Resolution 158 for consideration.
This resolution expresses support for the designation of an Early
Detection Month for breast cancer and all forms of cancer.
{time} 1115
House Concurrent Resolution 158 was introduced by my friend and
colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge), on June
25, 2009, and was favorably reported out of the House Oversight
Committee by voice
[[Page H205]]
vote on December 12, 2009. In addition, the legislation enjoys the
support of more than 50 Members of Congress.
In recognition of Mr. Etheridge's sponsorship, I would like to
recognize him and yield him such time as he may consume.
Mr. ETHERIDGE. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
I rise today in support of this resolution expressing the support for
the designation of an Early Detection Month for cancer. I would also
like to thank Chairman Towns for his work in bringing this bill to the
floor.
Every year almost 2 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer.
Tragically, more than one-quarter of those cases result in death. Early
detection can help patients get early treatment. It can stop the spread
of the disease before it becomes untreatable, or before it requires
expensive medical treatments, and can be the difference between life
and death. Early detection saves tens of thousands of lives annually,
and also greatly reduces the financial strain on government and private
health care services.
Several years ago, I was diagnosed with melanoma. My cancer was found
early because I see my doctor regularly. Congresswoman Wasserman
Schultz, who joins me in sponsoring this resolution, found hers early
because she was aware of how to test for the early signs of cancer. As
cancer survivors ourselves, we want to enable all Americans to have the
knowledge and access to care that can lead to early detection.
This resolution expresses support for an Early Detection Month
beginning in May 2010. This concurrent resolution enhances public
awareness of cancer screening and early detection so that any person
who gets cancer can have a chance to survive.
Mr. Speaker, early detection is critical to help reduce the tragedy
of cancer deaths in our country. I urge my colleagues to join me in
fighting a disease that has claimed so many lives but, with support for
early detection, can be beaten.
Mr. SCHOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution
158, which expresses support for the designation of an Early Detection
Month for breast cancer and all forms of cancers. Each year in the
United States, there are over 1.4 million new cases of cancer, and
hundreds of thousands of Americans die from this dreaded disease. Most
of us know a family member, a friend, or a colleague who has been
diagnosed with cancer and who has died from a struggle with cancer.
Inevitably, cancer will affect every one of us in some way.
While early detection of cancer does not make every case treatable,
early detection can dramatically increase the chance of survival. The
American Cancer Society reports that the rate of death from breast
cancer has been declining since 1990 largely because of the increased
rate of early detection.
The American Cancer Society has similar conclusions for the declining
mortality rate among men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Early
detection is essential to helping to treat cancer and save thousands of
lives every year.
Unfortunately, despite the benefits of early detection, many
Americans do not get the yearly examinations from their doctors that
could detect various forms of cancers. The American Cancer Society
reports that only 51 percent of all women 40 years and older had a
mammogram in the last year. Less than half of all men age 50 and older
were screened for prostate cancer in the last year. Nearly half of all
Americans who are in the age groups most vulnerable for these types of
cancers are not getting the early detection tests that could save their
lives.
Mr. Speaker, we need to encourage more Americans to get early cancer
detection tests such as mammograms and prostate screenings. I strongly
encourage my colleagues to support this resolution which will create an
Early Detection Month and raise public awareness of early detection of
cancer to encourage more Americans to get lifesaving, early detection
tests.
I appreciate the opportunity to speak in support of this, Mr.
Speaker.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the remarks
of the gentlemen from Illinois and North Carolina, and I want to drill
down some of the numbers that have been offered by the American Cancer
Society.
They report that in 2009, 1.5 million new cases of cancer were
diagnosed in the United States alone. In addition, the American Cancer
Society notes that roughly one out of every two American men and one
out of every three American women will have some type of cancer at some
point in their lifetime. They also report that the most common types of
cancer in the United States are nonmelanoma skin cancer, breast cancer
in women, and prostate cancer in men. One out of every eight women in
the United States will develop breast cancer, and about one in six men
will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Furthermore, the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009, more
than 560,000 Americans died of cancer. In other words, more than 1,500
people lost their lives to cancer every day last year. The American
Cancer Society also notes that cancer accounts for nearly one out of
every four deaths in the United States, which makes cancer the second
most common cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart
disease.
Now, despite these troubling statistics, with early detection and
proper management, cancer can be highly treatable. As noted by the
American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rate for all
cancers diagnosed between 1996 and 2004 is about 66 percent, up from 50
percent in 1975 to 1977. The 5-year relative survival for female breast
cancer has improved from 63 percent in the early 1960s to 89 percent
today. Additionally, over the past 25 years, the 5-year survival rate
for prostate cancer has increased from 69 percent to almost 99 percent.
Now, cancer can strike any individual regardless of gender, race, or
age; but still, it is important to note that the risk of being
diagnosed with cancer increases with age. In fact, according to the
American Cancer Society, 77 percent of all cancers are diagnosed in
persons 55 years and older.
Mr. Speaker, greater awareness of the critical necessity of breast
cancer, prostate cancer, and all other cancers will save tens of
thousands of lives, and may also help decrease the financial strain on
government and private health care services by detecting cancer before
it requires costly medical treatment.
Accordingly, let us take this opportunity through passage of H. Con.
Res. 158 to increase public awareness of breast cancer and all forms
and types of cancer and encourage all Americans to work with their
doctors in order to maximize the possibility of early detection.
I urge my colleagues to join Mr. Etheridge in supporting House
Concurrent Resolution 158.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCHOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend, the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois
for the time.
I rise in support of this resolution for the designation of an Early
Detection Month for breast cancer. I do so in solidarity with and
through the strength of thousands of breast cancer survivors.
Almost everyone in this country, unfortunately, knows someone who has
suffered from breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second most common
cancer among women, but it is becoming one of the most survivable
cancers if the disease is detected early, which is the purpose of the
bill before us.
We must remain vigilant in our efforts to educate and diagnose and
treat. With these three pillars--education, diagnosis and treatment--we
can and we will save lives. Let us make sure that we educate one
another on the dangers of breast cancer and the need for early and
routine checkups. Early detection makes the difference in surviving
this terrible disease.
In memory of Congresswoman JoAnn Davis, who passed away at the age of
57 while serving last Congress after a 2-year battle with breast
cancer, and for my baby granddaughter, Morgan Elizabeth, let us make
sure that our efforts to defeat this terrible disease continue with the
same strength, and even stronger, in our efforts at early detection for
all individuals in our country and, indeed, the world.
[[Page H206]]
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCHOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to my good friend, the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton).
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I believe that probably everybody
in the House and in the Senate has someone that they know or knew that
had breast cancer or another form of cancer.
My first wife, Barbara, died about 8 years ago from cancer. I will
never forget the day she felt a lump in her breast. She thought it was
a fibrous tissue. She had them before, and she didn't want to go have
herself tested. I said, I want you to go to the doctor and have him
look at that. She did, and she called me a couple of days later when I
was out here in Washington and she started crying and said, I've got
breast cancer. Of course, I went back home and we went to the doctor
and went through all of the things that you have to go through,
including the chemotherapy. For any family that has gone through that,
they know how very difficult it is. Had she had a mammogram earlier,
she might not have had the breast cancer metastasize and go to other
parts of her body. She ultimately passed way. It was a tragic thing to
watch that.
That is why this bill, although it may sound like just a resolution,
is very, very important. One of the things in the health care
negotiations that has concerned me a great deal is that there was some
talk about limiting mammograms to people 50 and above, and the people
between 40 and 50 might not be included in getting mammograms and
having coverage for that, either under the health plan or insurance
plans.
I want to read you a letter from a young lady from my district in
Noblesville, Indiana, Tonya Lewis. Here is what she says: ``I was
diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in May of 2008 at age 39.
I found this lump myself. I had a baseline mammogram at age 35. It came
back clear. I was advised not to have another mammogram until age 40.
The radiologist that read my mammogram at age 39 advised me that if I
would have had a mammogram at age 36, 37, or 38, most likely I would
not have had to have a mastectomy and 14 lymph nodes removed. My cancer
spread to my lungs and chest wall after doing chemo and radiation.
After completing nine different types of chemo, as of November 24,
2009, I am finally cancer free. Please fight for us breast cancer
survivors and the young women in the future. I believe mammograms
should be available and paid for by insurance companies at any age.''
When we talk about limiting breast cancer screening to people 50 and
above, I think we make a mistake because breast cancer does kill. One
in every eight women is going to get breast cancer in their lifetime
and it is going to affect families across this country. I think we
ought to make sure that we don't start limiting mammograms to only
people 50 and above. It has been 40 and above for some time. In this
particular case it wouldn't have helped her because she was in her
thirties when she developed breast cancer. It is a very, very serious
thing, and unless somebody has lived with it, they don't understand how
horrible it is to watch somebody pass away going through the travails
of cancer.
So I want to congratulate my colleagues on sponsoring this bill, and
I hope in the negotiations on the health care bill, regardless of how
it comes out, we make sure that we take care of the women who are
suffering from these things and catch it before it becomes terminal.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks, and I
continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCHOCK. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of House Concurrent
Resolution 158, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of H. Con. Res. 158, a resolution expressing support for the
designation of an Early Detection Month for breast cancer and all forms
of cancer.
Breast cancer in women is one of the most frequent forms of cancer
recognized in the more than 2 million new cases of cancer diagnosed
each year in the United States. In fact, every 13 minutes a woman dies
from breast cancer, and in 2009 alone, 192,370 women were diagnosed
with breast cancer in the U.S. This resolution recognizes the
importance of early detection for breast cancer victims and is
paramount due to the deadly nature of the disease.
Mr. Speaker, the United States Preventative Services Task Force
recommendations--against routine mammography for women ages 40 to 49
and breast self-examinations--were shocking to say the least. As a
practicing OB/GYN physician for nearly 30 years, I saw first hand the
benefits that early detection of cancer in women can have on saving
lives and improving quality of life. Therefore, it is imperative that
this House duly recognizes the significance of self-examination and
early detection of breast cancer.
The designation of Early Detection Month will enhance public
awareness of the catastrophic and devastating effects of cancer.
Hopefully, this resolution will shine further light on a disease that
so commonly affects millions of Americans and in turn help to promote
research and advanced medical procedures that will one day lead to a
cure.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, again I encourage my friends on both sides of
the aisle to join Mr. Etheridge in supporting the designation of an
Early Detection Month for breast cancer and all forms of cancers
through the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 158.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 158, as
amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the grounds that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
____________________