[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 122 (Wednesday, September 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1492-E1493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

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                         HON. C. W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 12, 2012

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
September as National

[[Page E1493]]

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and to urge my colleagues to use this 
time to raise awareness and help increase public knowledge about this 
deadly disease and its symptoms. In 2012, it is estimated that 
approximately 22,280 women in the United States will be diagnosed with 
ovarian cancer and 15,500 will die of the disease. In my state, 
Florida, an estimated 1,040 women will die from ovarian cancer this 
year. Too many American women--sisters, daughters, nieces, wives, 
friends, neighbors, and coworkers--are losing their lives to this 
disease.
  Ovarian cancer is currently the ninth most common cancer among women 
and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths, making it the 
deadliest of the gynecologic cancers. If ovarian cancer is treated 
before it has spread outside the ovary, the five-year survival rate is 
93 percent. Currently, only 15 percent of ovarian cancers are found at 
such an early stage and overall the relative five-year survival rate is 
46 percent. I urge Members of this House to help make women aware of 
the potential warning signs to prevent future deaths. This is 
especially vital because physicians acknowledge that symptoms can be 
vague and may be associated with other medical conditions.
  Despite increased knowledge and treatments for many once-deadly 
cancers, ovarian cancer's risk factors, symptoms, and causes are not 
well understood. Experts recommend that women see a gynecologist if 
they experience any of the often subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer 
daily for more than a few weeks, these include bloating, difficulty 
eating, and pelvic or abdominal pain. I ask all of my colleagues to 
become familiar with the symptoms and to share the information with 
their friends, family, staff, and constituents.
  Research also holds the key to identifying better treatments for 
ovarian cancer, as well as the development of a screening test. That is 
why as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense I 
have made it an annual priority to assist in funding the highly 
successful Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program. For 
nearly two decades now this program has played a key role in supporting 
unique ovarian cancer research and has already seen some breakthroughs 
in the fight against ovarian cancer. Continued federal funding will 
allow the program to maintain current research and expand innovative 
investigations into much-needed early detection tools and screening.
  As we continue our work on establishing funding priorities for the 
coming fiscal year, it is my hope that my colleagues remember the 
important work of the DoD Ovarian Cancer Research Program and other 
federal initiatives aimed at reducing ovarian cancer incidence and 
mortality. We must all work together to bring greater awareness to 
ovarian cancer and help educate the women in our life about the risk 
factors, signs, and symptoms of this devastating disease.

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