[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4664]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. This 
month provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the significant 
strides we have made in confronting colorectal cancer and to renew our 
commitment to beating this devastating disease. In 2000, President 
Clinton first dedicated National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in 
order to raise awareness of colorectal cancer and to remind us of the 
important steps we can take to prevent, detect, and ultimately defeat 
this disease.
  Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the 
United States. This year, approximately 50,000 Americans will die from 
colorectal cancer, which means each one of us in this Chamber will lose 
an average of 1,000 constituents in 2015 alone. The likelihood of 
developing colorectal cancer is now greater than 1 in 20, and 133,000 
Americans are expected to be newly diagnosed this year. The American 
Cancer Society estimates that 2,360 new cases of colorectal cancer will 
be diagnosed in Maryland and, sadly, 860 Marylanders are expected to 
die from the disease this year.
  Colorectal cancer affects men and women equally when we reach the age 
of 50 and beyond. Unfortunately, as I look around this room I know that 
some of you have known someone who has been impacted by this disease.
  Despite these grim statistics, however, the single most encouraging 
fact about this deadly disease is that colorectal cancer is among the 
most preventable of all cancers. Unlike other cancer screenings where 
the goal is to detect cancer at an early stage, colorectal cancer 
screenings can actually prevent cancer from occurring in the first 
place. Colorectal cancer arises from pre-cancerous growths, or polyps, 
that grow in the colon. If found early through appropriate screening 
and detection, these polyps can be removed, halting their progression 
into colorectal cancer. The way to beat this disease is with regular 
screening through a variety of methods, including colonoscopy. These 
are life-saving tests. In fact, a recent study in the New England 
Journal of Medicine concluded that of the nearly 50,000 people expected 
to die of colorectal cancer this year, screening could save more than 
half of them.
  At the same time, colorectal cancer screening is becoming a public 
health success story in the United States. While it remains the second 
leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women combined, both the 
incidence and death rate have been declining in recent years--something 
no other country can claim. The percentage of the population that is up 
to date with recommended colorectal cancer screening increased to 65 
percent in 2010 and, among those aged 50 and older, incidence rates 
have dropped 30 percent over the last decade. This positive trend in 
lower incidence rates demonstrates the importance of screening and the 
power of preventive medicine.
  In Maryland, we can boast one of the highest screening rates among 
eligible populations in the country at 70 percent. However, that still 
means that three out of every ten people at risk are not getting 
screened. This highlights the need for policies to help achieve the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's national goal of having 80 
percent of eligible Americans screened by 2018. Furthermore, screening 
rates remain unacceptably low across the country, especially in the 
Medicare age population, who have the greatest risk for developing 
colorectal cancer.
  I am proud to rise in support of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness 
Month. The need for increased awareness about this disease and the 
importance of screening is a public health issue truly worthy of our 
attention in Congress. I ask my colleagues to join me in working to 
raise awareness that colorectal cancer is preventable, detectable, 
treatable and curable.

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