[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1585-E1586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2012

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of women's 
health and in recognition of September as National Ovarian Cancer 
Awareness Month. This year, it is estimated that 22,280 women will be 
diagnosed with ovarian cancer and that 15,500 women, including 620 from 
Illinois, will die from it. If ovarian cancer is diagnosed and treated 
before the cancer spreads outside of the ovary, the five-year survival 
rate is 93 percent. Unfortunately, only 15 percent of ovarian cancers 
are found at that stage.
  Too many women are losing their lives to ovarian cancer, the 
deadliest of the gynecologic cancers. Because no screening or early 
detection tests exist today, many women are unaware that they are 
living with this disease until it is too late. We need to increase 
public education about the early warning signs because, as 
organizations such as the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance stress, 
``until there's a test, awareness is best.'' Treating this disease 
before it has spread beyond the ovary significantly increases the 
survival rate. At the same time, we need more than awareness--we need 
to continue the medical research required to develop the screening 
tests that will save women's lives.
  Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month helps increase awareness of ovarian 
cancer and focus attention on the continued need for innovative 
research efforts to identify screening and early detection tests for 
ovarian cancer.
  I commend the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, including their 
Partner Member groups CCare Lynch Syndrome, Bright Pink, and FORCE of 
Chicago, for their steadfast commitment to making women aware of the 
risk factors, signs, and symptoms of ovarian cancer and for their 
advocacy on behalf of women and families touched by this devastating 
disease. I urge my colleagues to help make women aware of the potential 
warning signs of this disease and to continue to support ovarian cancer 
research efforts.

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