[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.

                          ____________________