Political Quotes

“this resolution designates September as ``National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.'' I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues, Senators Dole and Clinton, to shed some light on this disease. This year alone, ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in an estimated 20,000 women, and approximately 15,000 more women will die of this disease. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer is usually caught in an advanced stage, meaning there is only a 29 percent survival rate over five years. We must acknowledge these statistics and overcome the challenges of diagnosing this deadly disease. Earlier this year, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet with nine-year survivor Carolyn Benivegna of Novi, Michigan. After being misdiagnosed by a number of doctors, Carolyn finally learned that she had ovarian cancer. However, Carolyn is not letting the cancer run her life. Instead, she has become an advocate for the Survivors Teaching Students program, which aims to enhance medical students' understanding of the symptoms and risk factors of ovarian cancer to facilitate early diagnosis and detection when they begin practicing medicine. I am proud that both Michigan State University and Wayne State University are starting Survivors Training Students programs for their medical students. While there is no definitive screening test, recent studies have shown common symptoms of ovarian cancer such as bloating, abdominal pain, and difficulty eating.”