Recognizing Karol Toomer

Floor Speech

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Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to Karol Toomer, a breast cancer survivor and secretary of Miami, Florida, Chapter of Sisters Network Incorporated.

Ms. Toomer was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. In September of 2012, Ms. Toomer, who has been a strong advocate for breast cancer awareness, became the Secretary for the Miami Chapter of Sisters Network, Inc., a national African-American breast cancer survivorship organization. Its mission is to address the needs particular to African-American women, the underinsured and the underserved around the country by getting the message out that ``we must stop the silence about breast cancer so women can start beating the odds.'' The organization has since provided a strong support group for hundreds of women with breast cancer, as well as survivors in South Florida.

Experts estimate that about one out of every eight women born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time during her life. The strongest risk factor for breast cancer is age. A woman's risk of developing this disease increases as she gets older. However, thanks to the work Ms. Toomer is doing and improvements in cancer treatment and early detection, millions of women and thousands of men are surviving breast cancer today.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too. Today, there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

I am honored to recognize Karol Toomer, a breast cancer survivor and secretary of the Miami Chapter of Sisters Network, for her dedication and commitment to our community and the fight against breast cancer.

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