[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14444]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, we recognize September as Ovarian 
Cancer Awareness Month.
  This year, the American Cancer Society estimates that 22,000 women 
will develop ovarian cancer and more than 15,550 women will lose their 
battle with this deadly cancer.
  In the last 40 years, the National Cancer Institute, NCI, academic 
medical centers, and researchers across the country have made 
remarkable strides in improving treatments and therapies for various 
cancers.
  Today, there are 12 million Americans who are cancer survivors.
  Despite this progress, effective treatments for some cancers--
including ovarian cancer--remain elusive.
  This month, we support these women, their families, and the tireless 
efforts of health care providers and researchers across the country.
  That is why I joined more than a dozen Senate colleagues as an 
original cosponsor of the National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month 
Resolution.
  If detected earlier, an ovarian cancer patient has a 94 percent 
chance of surviving longer than 5 years.
  However, only 20 percent of ovarian cancer is detected in its early 
stage, and when diagnosed in the advanced stage there is only a 30 
percent chance of survival.
  This makes ovarian cancer the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers.
  The National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Resolution designates September 
as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and encourages the efforts of cancer 
advocates to increase public awareness.
  It also supports the NCI and medical researchers, work to develop a 
reliable early detection test.
  I have long been an advocate of cancer patients and research.
  During the health reform debate, I successfully worked to pass the 
Clinical Trials Amendment.
  Because of the amendment's inclusion in the Affordable Care Act, ACA, 
health insurance companies can no longer use participation in a 
clinical trial as a reason to deny health insurance coverage for 
routine health care.
  This provision of the ACA is especially important for diseases like 
ovarian cancer that desperately need advancements in effective 
therapies.
  As we recognize the importance of advancing ovarian cancer research 
and commend the struggle ovarian cancer patients and survivors 
encounter, we must ensure that researchers get the necessary funding 
and patients receive access to comprehensive care and coverage.
  I will continue to support the goals of Ovarian Cancer Awareness 
Month--not just in September--throughout the year.

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