[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 136 (Friday, October 4, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 4, 2013

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, October is National Breast Cancer 
Awareness Month. This month is devoted to raising awareness and 
educating individuals about breast cancer and honor the thousands of 
women across our nation who have been diagnosed, fighting or have 
survived breast cancer.
  Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United 
States. 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer over the course of her 
lifetime, and it is estimated that this year more than 230,000 cases of 
breast cancer. In the great state of Texas, 13,856 women were diagnosed 
with breast cancer in 2010.
  In the Second District of Texas, I am proud of our local hospitals, 
school districts, and non-profits who promote breast cancer awareness 
and prevention during this month. My own staffer and casework manager, 
Whitney Rahim, has been affected personally by this disease. Whitney's 
mother, Cynthia Bryant, is a 5 year breast cancer survivor and a 
community volunteer for the Houston Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and the 
Houston Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Whitney and her mother, along with 
friends and family, walk in both races to raise funds for breast cancer 
research, education, screening and treatment. Almost everyone we know 
has been touched by this disease.
  Last year, my friend John Garza with the Houston Police Department, 
received news that his wife, Virginia had stage 2 breast cancer. 
Virginia, like her husband, is a lifetime member of what is referred to 
in my part of Texas as the Poe-leece. It is an informal organization 
made up of my longtime friends in the Texas law enforcement community. 
I first met Virginia in 1993 at the North Harris County Criminal 
Justice Association breakfast meeting in Humble; she was then an agent 
with the DEA (United States Drug Enforcement Administration). I knew 
then that Virginia was a fighter and survivor. Virginia is a highly 
trained federal and state narcotics investigator; she has worked for 
the DEA, Harris County, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Humble 
Police Department. When Virginia was first diagnosed, she had just 
started working as a Senior Investigator at the Harris County 
Attorney's Office and had very little sick time accumulated. While 
receiving chemo treatments for a course of six months, she never missed 
a day of work! Virginia and John have five children and four 
grandchildren. One of Virginia's biggest fears was not being present or 
helpful for the birth of their third grandchild, I am happy to report 
that Virginia courageously battled cancer and she is cancer free and 
she recently saw the birth of her fourth grandchild.
  Unfortunately, this disease has hit home for another one of our very 
own from the Houston Police Department. Senior Police Officer Linda 
Reichert was diagnosed with breast cancer in December of 2011. Every 
year, she made her routine mammogram appointment and on that day in 
December, she never thought she would receive the news that she did. 
Stage 0 breast cancer. Zero was a small number in her mind but it 
wasn't until doctors discovered stage 2 cancer in her lymph nodes that 
she realized she couldn't take the small number for granted. It was an 
arduous road to recovery for her. However, after a double mastectomy, 
intense chemotherapy, and lymph nodes removal, she was able to return 
to a job that she is immeasurably passionate about. It was more than 
the medicine and surgeries that led her to becoming a breast cancer 
survivor. Officer Reichert exuded positive energy and happiness, even 
during her lowest moments. Hair loss and skin deterioration were part 
of her recovery, but with her support team of family, friends, 
coworkers and doctors at her side, she beat the odds that come along 
with this disease. Today, she feels top-notch with lots of energy and 
is back at work pushing her goal each and every day: making a 
difference in someone's life, even if it is just one person.
  As a husband and father of three girls, I support funding for breast 
cancer research, screening, and treatment programs. I am an advocate 
for organizations that are dedicated to educating women about early 
detection by practicing regular self-breast exams and scheduling 
regular mammograms.
  I would like to express my sincere admiration to the 2.8 million 
breast cancer survivors in our country, like Cynthia and Virginia, who 
have demonstrated courage in their personal fight against this disease. 
Their tireless work is an inspiration and a reminder that we must keep 
up the fight until there is a cure.
  And that's just the way it is.

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