October Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Floor Speech

* Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Besides skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer occurring among American women. In 2009, it is estimated that around 179,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. And, an estimated 1 million new breast cancer cases will be identified in the coming year. For approximately 500,000 patients this year, this disease will be fatal. The time to address this problem is now.

* I encourage all women to get a mammogram because early detection is the key to beating this disease. A time commitment of only one hour can save your life.

* I am a proud sponsor of H.R. 1691, the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2009. This bill would prohibit a health care provider from limiting hospital stays for mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery to less than 48 hours. However, this measure protects and defers to the physician-patient relationship by not mandating a certain hospital stay if both the patient and her doctor agree that such stay is unnecessary. Many breast cancer patients undergo some type of surgical treatment, which may involve lumpectomy or mastectomy. Breast cancer surgery is not easy, physically or emotionally. When women find themselves forced by their insurance companies to leave the hospital before they are ready--sometimes just hours after surgery--it can lead to serious complications.

* I am also a sponsor of H.R. 1740, the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act (the EARLY Act), which would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and implement a national educational campaign to increase awareness of the threats posed by breast cancer in young women of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Regarding research funding, I sponsored legislation that raises money for breast cancer research by giving Americans the option of purchasing a special postage stamp for 14 cents above the normal price. This small amount of money adds up and makes a difference. Since 1997, the program has raised more than $53 million for breast cancer research.

* Last year, I met two breast cancer survivors from the Kansas City area who were visiting Washington, D.C. for a reception honoring their advocacy efforts. Kim Carlos and Jennifer Johnson coauthored Nordie's at Noon, a book detailing their personal stories and those of others who have battled breast cancer. Their powerful message highlights the importance of spreading breast cancer education and early detection awareness to help save lives.

* The University of Kansas Cancer Center houses the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center, and focuses a comprehensive attack on the disease--from education and early detection to treatment, post-operative care, and emotion support. Battling breast cancer and other forms of cancer is a lifetime fight and just because a patient's treatment concludes does not mean that the care is finished. The Center's mission is very straightforward--eliminate the burden of cancer through world-class research, drug development and delivery, prevention and survivorship, and patient care. When it comes to fighting cancer, the University of Kansas says ``Game On!''

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