On the recordFebruary 23, 2010
I rise in support of Senate passage of H. Con. Res. 158, the House companion to a resolution I introduced last August to highlight greater awareness of breast and other cancers by designating an early cancer detection month. This House resolution is sponsored by my good friend and colleague from North Carolina, Congressman Bob Etheridge. Almost every person has been touched by cancer, either personally or through a family member or friend who has suffered from some form of the disease. Sadly, every year, more than 2 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the United States. The most common forms of cancer diagnosed in Americans are skin cancer, breast cancer in women, prostate cancer in men, lung cancer, and colorectal cancers. And it is estimated that in 2009, over half a million Americans died from all types of cancer. Last year, in North Carolina, there were an estimated 42,270 new cases of cancer and more than 18,000 deaths due to cancer. Of those lost, 1,300 deaths were from breast cancer in women and 860 deaths from prostate cancer. Current cancer treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy; however, there is no cure. Many oncologists and breast cancer researchers believe that a cure for breast cancer will not be discovered until well into the future. However, we cannot sit idly by while we wait for a cure.
