[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1] [House] [Pages 307-310] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]EARLY DETECTION MONTH FOR BREAST CANCER Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 158) expressing support for the designation of an Early Detection Month for breast cancer and all forms of cancer, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution. The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows: H. Con. Res. 158 Whereas in 2009, 1,479,350 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States; Whereas the most common types of cancer in the United States are nonmelanoma skin cancer, breast cancer in women, prostate cancer in men, lung cancer, and colorectal cancers; Whereas one out of every eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime; Whereas incidence of breast cancer in young women is much lower than in older women, and young women's breast cancers are generally more aggressive and result in lower survival rates; Whereas breast cancer currently takes the life of one woman in the United States every 13 minutes; Whereas in 2009, 192,370 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer; Whereas there is currently no known cure for metastatic breast cancer; Whereas many oncologists and breast cancer researchers believe that a cure for breast cancer will not be discovered until well into the future, if such a cure is possible at all; Whereas prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men, with over 80 percent of all cases occurring in men over age 65; Whereas African-American men are diagnosed with the disease at later stages and die of prostate cancer more often than do white men; Whereas in 2009, 1,910 men in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer; Whereas if detected early enough, over three-quarters of those who develop cancer could be saved; Whereas greater annual awareness of the critical necessity of the early detection of breast cancer and other cancers will not only save tens of thousands of lives but also greatly reduce the financial strain on government and private health care services by detecting cancer before it requires very expensive medical treatment and protocols; Whereas there is a need for enhanced public awareness of cancer screening; and Whereas the designation of an Early Detection Month will enhance public awareness of breast cancer and all other forms of cancer: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress supports the designation of an Early Detection Month to enhance public awareness of screening for breast cancer and all other forms of cancer. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schock) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts. General Leave Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Massachusetts? There was no objection. Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. On behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am proud to present House Concurrent Resolution 158 for consideration. This resolution expresses support for the designation of an Early Detection Month for breast cancer and all forms of cancer. {time} 1115 House Concurrent Resolution 158 was introduced by my friend and colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge), on June 25, 2009, and was favorably reported out of the House Oversight Committee by voice vote on December 12, 2009. In addition, the legislation enjoys the support of more than 50 Members of Congress. In recognition of Mr. Etheridge's sponsorship, I would like to recognize him and yield him such time as he may consume. Mr. ETHERIDGE. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. [[Page 308]] I rise today in support of this resolution expressing the support for the designation of an Early Detection Month for cancer. I would also like to thank Chairman Towns for his work in bringing this bill to the floor. Every year almost 2 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer. Tragically, more than one-quarter of those cases result in death. Early detection can help patients get early treatment. It can stop the spread of the disease before it becomes untreatable, or before it requires expensive medical treatments, and can be the difference between life and death. Early detection saves tens of thousands of lives annually, and also greatly reduces the financial strain on government and private health care services. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with melanoma. My cancer was found early because I see my doctor regularly. Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, who joins me in sponsoring this resolution, found hers early because she was aware of how to test for the early signs of cancer. As cancer survivors ourselves, we want to enable all Americans to have the knowledge and access to care that can lead to early detection. This resolution expresses support for an Early Detection Month beginning in May 2010. This concurrent resolution enhances public awareness of cancer screening and early detection so that any person who gets cancer can have a chance to survive. Mr. Speaker, early detection is critical to help reduce the tragedy of cancer deaths in our country. I urge my colleagues to join me in fighting a disease that has claimed so many lives but, with support for early detection, can be beaten. Mr. SCHOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 158, which expresses support for the designation of an Early Detection Month for breast cancer and all forms of cancers. Each year in the United States, there are over 1.4 million new cases of cancer, and hundreds of thousands of Americans die from this dreaded disease. Most of us know a family member, a friend, or a colleague who has been diagnosed with cancer and who has died from a struggle with cancer. Inevitably, cancer will affect every one of us in some way. While early detection of cancer does not make every case treatable, early detection can dramatically increase the chance of survival. The American Cancer Society reports that the rate of death from breast cancer has been declining since 1990 largely because of the increased rate of early detection. The American Cancer Society has similar conclusions for the declining mortality rate among men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Early detection is essential to helping to treat cancer and save thousands of lives every year. Unfortunately, despite the benefits of early detection, many Americans do not get the yearly examinations from their doctors that could detect various forms of cancers. The American Cancer Society reports that only 51 percent of all women 40 years and older had a mammogram in the last year. Less than half of all men age 50 and older were screened for prostate cancer in the last year. Nearly half of all Americans who are in the age groups most vulnerable for these types of cancers are not getting the early detection tests that could save their lives. Mr. Speaker, we need to encourage more Americans to get early cancer detection tests such as mammograms and prostate screenings. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this resolution which will create an Early Detection Month and raise public awareness of early detection of cancer to encourage more Americans to get lifesaving, early detection tests. I appreciate the opportunity to speak in support of this, Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the remarks of the gentlemen from Illinois and North Carolina, and I want to drill down some of the numbers that have been offered by the American Cancer Society. They report that in 2009, 1.5 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the United States alone. In addition, the American Cancer Society notes that roughly one out of every two American men and one out of every three American women will have some type of cancer at some point in their lifetime. They also report that the most common types of cancer in the United States are nonmelanoma skin cancer, breast cancer in women, and prostate cancer in men. One out of every eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer, and about one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Furthermore, the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009, more than 560,000 Americans died of cancer. In other words, more than 1,500 people lost their lives to cancer every day last year. The American Cancer Society also notes that cancer accounts for nearly one out of every four deaths in the United States, which makes cancer the second most common cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease. Now, despite these troubling statistics, with early detection and proper management, cancer can be highly treatable. As noted by the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers diagnosed between 1996 and 2004 is about 66 percent, up from 50 percent in 1975 to 1977. The 5-year relative survival for female breast cancer has improved from 63 percent in the early 1960s to 89 percent today. Additionally, over the past 25 years, the 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer has increased from 69 percent to almost 99 percent. Now, cancer can strike any individual regardless of gender, race, or age; but still, it is important to note that the risk of being diagnosed with cancer increases with age. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, 77 percent of all cancers are diagnosed in persons 55 years and older. Mr. Speaker, greater awareness of the critical necessity of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and all other cancers will save tens of thousands of lives, and may also help decrease the financial strain on government and private health care services by detecting cancer before it requires costly medical treatment. Accordingly, let us take this opportunity through passage of H. Con. Res. 158 to increase public awareness of breast cancer and all forms and types of cancer and encourage all Americans to work with their doctors in order to maximize the possibility of early detection. I urge my colleagues to join Mr. Etheridge in supporting House Concurrent Resolution 158. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SCHOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen). Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for the time. I rise in support of this resolution for the designation of an Early Detection Month for breast cancer. I do so in solidarity with and through the strength of thousands of breast cancer survivors. Almost everyone in this country, unfortunately, knows someone who has suffered from breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, but it is becoming one of the most survivable cancers if the disease is detected early, which is the purpose of the bill before us. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to educate and diagnose and treat. With these three pillars--education, diagnosis and treatment--we can and we will save lives. Let us make sure that we educate one another on the dangers of breast cancer and the need for early and routine checkups. Early detection makes the difference in surviving this terrible disease. In memory of Congresswoman JoAnn Davis, who passed away at the age of 57 while serving last Congress after a 2-year battle with breast cancer, and for my baby granddaughter, Morgan Elizabeth, let us make sure that our efforts to defeat this terrible disease continue with the same strength, and even stronger, in our efforts at early detection for all individuals in our country and, indeed, the world. [[Page 309]] Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SCHOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton). Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I believe that probably everybody in the House and in the Senate has someone that they know or knew that had breast cancer or another form of cancer. My first wife, Barbara, died about 8 years ago from cancer. I will never forget the day she felt a lump in her breast. She thought it was a fibrous tissue. She had them before, and she didn't want to go have herself tested. I said, I want you to go to the doctor and have him look at that. She did, and she called me a couple of days later when I was out here in Washington and she started crying and said, I've got breast cancer. Of course, I went back home and we went to the doctor and went through all of the things that you have to go through, including the chemotherapy. For any family that has gone through that, they know how very difficult it is. Had she had a mammogram earlier, she might not have had the breast cancer metastasize and go to other parts of her body. She ultimately passed way. It was a tragic thing to watch that. That is why this bill, although it may sound like just a resolution, is very, very important. One of the things in the health care negotiations that has concerned me a great deal is that there was some talk about limiting mammograms to people 50 and above, and the people between 40 and 50 might not be included in getting mammograms and having coverage for that, either under the health plan or insurance plans. I want to read you a letter from a young lady from my district in Noblesville, Indiana, Tonya Lewis. Here is what she says: ``I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in May of 2008 at age 39. I found this lump myself. I had a baseline mammogram at age 35. It came back clear. I was advised not to have another mammogram until age 40. The radiologist that read my mammogram at age 39 advised me that if I would have had a mammogram at age 36, 37, or 38, most likely I would not have had to have a mastectomy and 14 lymph nodes removed. My cancer spread to my lungs and chest wall after doing chemo and radiation. After completing nine different types of chemo, as of November 24, 2009, I am finally cancer free. Please fight for us breast cancer survivors and the young women in the future. I believe mammograms should be available and paid for by insurance companies at any age.'' When we talk about limiting breast cancer screening to people 50 and above, I think we make a mistake because breast cancer does kill. One in every eight women is going to get breast cancer in their lifetime and it is going to affect families across this country. I think we ought to make sure that we don't start limiting mammograms to only people 50 and above. It has been 40 and above for some time. In this particular case it wouldn't have helped her because she was in her thirties when she developed breast cancer. It is a very, very serious thing, and unless somebody has lived with it, they don't understand how horrible it is to watch somebody pass away going through the travails of cancer. So I want to congratulate my colleagues on sponsoring this bill, and I hope in the negotiations on the health care bill, regardless of how it comes out, we make sure that we take care of the women who are suffering from these things and catch it before it becomes terminal. Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SCHOCK. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of House Concurrent Resolution 158, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 158, a resolution expressing support for the designation of an Early Detection Month for breast cancer and all forms of cancer. Breast cancer in women is one of the most frequent forms of cancer recognized in the more than 2 million new cases of cancer diagnosed each year in the United States. In fact, every 13 minutes a woman dies from breast cancer, and in 2009 alone, 192,370 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. This resolution recognizes the importance of early detection for breast cancer victims and is paramount due to the deadly nature of the disease. Mr. Speaker, the United States Preventative Services Task Force recommendations--against routine mammography for women ages 40 to 49 and breast self-examinations--were shocking to say the least. As a practicing OB/GYN physician for nearly 30 years, I saw first hand the benefits that early detection of cancer in women can have on saving lives and improving quality of life. Therefore, it is imperative that this House duly recognizes the significance of self-examination and early detection of breast cancer. The designation of Early Detection Month will enhance public awareness of the catastrophic and devastating effects of cancer. Hopefully, this resolution will shine further light on a disease that so commonly affects millions of Americans and in turn help to promote research and advanced medical procedures that will one day lead to a cure. I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 158 to express my support for the designation of an early detection month for breast cancer and all other forms of cancer. Early detection is incredibly important in saving the lives of victims of cancer. While this is true for people suffering from every form of cancer, it is particularly important for those suffering from breast cancer. Breast cancer can be detected through procedures that screen for abnormalities in breast tissue, and it is considered to be the best way for women to lower their risk of dying from the disease. Essentially, these screenings find the cancer early, when it is most treatable, and for this reason, designating an early detection month is incredibly important to help save the lives of the almost 200,000 women in the United States who are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer each year. It is important to note, as well, that the risk of getting breast cancer is much lower for African-American women than white women; however, African-American women are more likely to die from breast cancer. This is attributed partly to the fact that African-American women are less likely to get regular mammograms, resulting in a diagnosis of breast cancer at a later stage. This is one more reason why designating an early detection month is so important. In my district, we are doing our part to ensure early detection. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is one of the leading advocates for breast cancer awareness and actively promotes early detection. From their headquarters in Dallas, they have been advancing the cause for breast cancer prevention and awareness across the country. I am proud of the work they have done to save countless lives across the country. Mr. Speaker, today I encourage my fellow colleagues to join me in supporting this very important resolution that expresses support for the designation of an early detection month for cancer and breast cancer. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 158, expressing support for the designation of an Early Detection Month to enhance public awareness of cancer screening. As a young woman, I recently experienced firsthand why early detection is vital. As you may know, nearly two years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. During my year of treatment, I underwent genetic counseling and testing. I met with many specialists. I had seven surgeries. I am pleased to stand before you today cancer-free. But the fact is, I may not have been around for any of these life saving procedures if I didn't have the knowledge and awareness to catch my lump early. As a Member of Congress and lifelong advocate for early detection of cancer, I knew the statistics for breast cancer--that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in her lifetime. I knew the importance of knowing what your breasts are supposed to feel like--that's why I chose to do self-exams. I knew the importance of early detection--clinical exams every 3 years as of age 20; every year after 40 . . . mammograms every year after 40. And yet for all that I knew to help me increase my chances of early detection of cancer, I soon realized how much I didn't know. I didn't know that--even with no immediate family history of breast cancer--as an Ashkenazi Jew I was five times more likely to have the mutation . . . and, if I did, that I'd [[Page 310]] have up to an 85 percent lifetime chance of getting breast cancer . . . and up to a 60 percent chance of getting ovarian cancer. I didn't know that, because it's often more aggressive and diagnosed later, younger women--compared to older women--are more likely to die. But I thank God that I knew enough. I didn't find my tumor through luck. I found it through knowledge and awareness, the fundamental tools for early detection. These are the reasons why I commend my colleague, Congressman Etheridge, for introducing this critical resolution that will enhance public awareness of screening for breast cancer and all other forms of cancer. At the end of the day, knowledge is power. And with this resolution, we will give men and women all across America the power to detect cancer early, and we will save lives. Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support designating an Early Detection Month for Breast Cancer and All Forms of Cancer (H. Con. Res. 158). As a cancer survivor myself, I stand here as proof that early detection can save lives. While the search for a cancer cure continues, much progress has been made in the areas of prevention, detection and treatment of cancers. However, there are still over 2 million new cases of cancer diagnosed each year. The statistics are alarming: Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers affecting women, and prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men. Only non-melanoma skin cancer remains more common for men and women overall. Right now, it is estimated that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Sadly, thousands of West Virginia women faced breast cancer diagnosis in 2009 alone. Yet each year, more women survive their battle with breast cancer due to medical advances in early detection and treatment. Medical researchers, including those at Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia, are working hard to improve those figures--but early detection remains an important key to saving lives, which is why I strongly support this effort to designate an Early Detection Month to bring attention and focus to this critical issue. The steady decline in deaths resulting from breast cancer can be attributed to an increase in the number of women who receive mammograms and the development of powerful new drugs that successfully treat cancer. As many of you are aware, in 2006 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and subsequently underwent surgery. I am very thankful for all of the West Virginians who contacted me, offering their prayers and support as I prepared for my procedures, through my recovery, and up to this day. I am also truly grateful to the doctors who were able to diagnose my cancer early and--with immediate treatment, they improved my chances for survival. Cancer screening is often quick and easy and many testing measures can be performed in a local doctor's office. So many lives can be saved and so many families spared a tragic heartache of dealing with cancer diagnosis. That is why I support H. Con. Res. 158 and the efforts to encourage early detection since the bottom line with cancer is raising awareness and early detection saves lives. Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, again I encourage my friends on both sides of the aisle to join Mr. Etheridge in supporting the designation of an Early Detection Month for breast cancer and all forms of cancers through the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 158. I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 158, as amended. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the grounds that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed. The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn. ____________________