Arlen Specter: “I congratulate the American Society of Hematology--ASH--on its 50th anniversary and to pay tribute to the contributions…”

“I congratulate the American Society of Hematology--ASH--on its 50th anniversary and to pay tribute to the contributions they have made in preventing and eliminating blood related diseases. The society has grown substantially from its 200 members at its inception in 1958, to over 15,000 members presently, and is recognized as the world's premier organization in research promotion, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in the field of hematology. Society members consist of practitioners and researchers who have been able to translate Federal research dollars into effective treatments for millions of people afflicted with diseases that were at one time untreatable and fatal. The blood and blood-related diseases studied and treated by hematologists include disorders such as leukemia and lymphoma, thrombosis, anemia and bleeding, and congenital disorders such as sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, and thalassemia. The advancements in remedies of these disorders are a direct result of the continuing efforts made by the AHS. I sustained an episode with Hodgkin's lymphoma cancer 2 years ago. That trauma, that illness, I think, could have been prevented had that war on cancer declared by the President Nixon in 1970 been prosecuted with sufficient intensity.”