[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 122 (Wednesday, September 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 12, 2012

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues 
to join me in recognizing September as National Ovarian Cancer 
Awareness Month. In 2012 alone, it is estimated that roughly 22,280 
American women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer; and 15,500 will 
die from this insidious disease. Because most women are diagnosed in 
later stages of the disease, ovarian cancer has the highest mortality 
rate of all types of gynecological cancer, and it is the fifth-leading 
cause of cancer death among women. In fact, the five year survival rate 
is only 45 percent--not much higher than when the War on Cancer was 
declared 41 years ago!
  The word ``cancer'' evokes powerful emotions. Along with many of my 
colleagues, I know firsthand how devastating cancer can be to the 
individual who has been diagnosed as well as their family. Throughout 
September, all across the Nation, men and women will come together for 
events to both raise awareness of this terrible scourge and to show 
their support for the women and families struggling with this horrible 
disease. When September ends though, the fight against ovarian cancer 
will go on.
  Without a reliable screening test, our greatest weapon against this 
disease is awareness. If your mother, aunt, sister, wife or daughter 
experiences any of the following symptoms for more than a few weeks, 
strongly urge her to talk with her doctor or gynecologist immediately: 
bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full 
quickly, frequent or urgent need to urinate.
  If everyone in this chamber learns and shares these symptoms with 
just one person, and asks that person to pass the information forward 
to just one other person; and so on, and so on; we can spare thousands 
of women and their families the extraordinary suffering that comes with 
a late-stage cancer diagnosis. The more women and health professionals 
know about the symptoms and risk factors associated with ovarian cancer 
the more lives that can be saved.
  Our ultimate goal, however, should be the complete eradication of 
this disease. Research holds the key to identifying better treatments 
for ovarian cancer, as well as the development of a critically-needed 
screening test.
  The Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program plays a key 
role in supporting unique ovarian cancer research and has already seen 
some breakthroughs in the fight against ovarian cancer. Adequate 
funding will allow the program to maintain current research and expand 
innovative investigations into much-needed early detection and 
screening or early detection tools.
  The National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of 
Health does crucial research work in all areas of cancer, including 
ovarian cancer. These efforts will hopefully one day lead to 
breakthroughs that reduce ovarian cancer incidence, mortality, and 
morbidity. NCI has more than 550 active research projects on ovarian 
cancer in its cancer research portfolio. Additionally, NCI supports the 
Gynecologic Oncology Group, which promotes clinical and basic research, 
and four ovarian cancer Specialized Programs of Research Excellence, or 
SPOREs, to focus on translational research and turning scientific 
discoveries into applicable solutions or treatments.
  Finally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) 
Ovarian Cancer Control Initiative works to coordinate and fund health 
activities working toward early detection and improved treatment 
options. CDC also plays a critical role in disseminating information 
about ovarian cancer risk factors, signs, and symptoms to women, health 
professionals, and the public.
  We owe it to the women in our lives to fund the research necessary to 
purge this threat of cancer entirely. I fully understand the financial 
challenges facing our country, but I believe it is imperative that 
these programs continue to receive adequate funding in order to perform 
basic research and then translate that research into results for women 
with or at-risk for this terrible disease.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing September 
as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month; and to wear Teal--the 
official color for ovarian cancer, like pink is for breast cancer, 
throughout September to show your support.

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