[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 24, 2002)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E1324] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING OVARIAN CANCER ______ speech of HON. DAN BURTON of indiana in the house of representatives Monday, July 22, 2002 Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 385, a resolution which states that the Department of Health and Human Services should conduct or support research on certain tests to screen for ovarian cancer, and that health care programs and health insurance plans should cover these tests. Specifically, H. Con. Res. 385 would encourage the development and wide-spread use of a blood test that would detect ovarian cancer in its early stages, thus significantly reducing fatalities that result from the most lethal form of ovarian cancer. Currently, more than 75 percent of women with ovarian cancer are not diagnosed until they are in the fourth stage of the disease. The new protein-screening blood test would detect almost all ovarian cancers in the first stage of the disease when 5-year survival rates approach 95 percent. This is an extremely important step in helping to eliminate the threat of ovarian cancer. Early detection is critical for survival success and should be everyone's goal. There are many new cancer screening devices becoming available, and we must use these new technologies to help protect more Americans from the scourge of cancer. I know first-hand the pain that cancer can put a family through. On May 10, 2002 my wife passed away after a very long and difficult battle with colon cancer. I hope that all health insurance plans utilize to the fullest extent existing and promising detection methods for all cancers. Early detection can go a long way toward sparing other families from the pain of having a loved one suffer from cancer. ____________________