Column by Dan Boren:
Friday, October 21, 2005

WASHINGTON D.C - Every October, we renew our commitment to making progress in the fight to prevent, detect, treat and cure breast cancer.

 

Breast cancer is emerging as the defining women’s health issue of the 21^st century, with more women living with the disease than any other form of cancer. A woman in this country stands a one-in-seven chance of developing breast cancer.  Every two minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed.  It is estimated that nearly 212,000 new cases of breast cancer will be identified this year.   

 

In Oklahoma alone, more than 2,800 women will be diagnosed for the first time this year.  While many of them are making decisions about their treatment, an estimated 540 Oklahomans will die from breast cancer before the year’s end.     

I am continually amazed at the spirit and grace of women fighting this unrelenting disease.   For many, it becomes a very personal struggle – forcing them to find the strength and courage to deal with physical and emotional aspects of their experience. Survivors teach us lessons in courage and give inspiration to the newly diagnosed.

Today, there is more hope than ever for people touched by breast cancer.  Breakthroughs in treatment have helped to level the playing field in fighting the disease.  However, the best defense against breast cancer is still early detection.   

Screening for breast cancer before there are symptoms can be important.  Experts recommend a combination of monthly breast self-exams, yearly clinical exams and regular mammograms beginning at age 40, or earlier for those with a hereditary risk. The American Cancer Society recommends that beginning at age 20, every woman should do a self-examination once a month to check for physical changes.  Yearly clinical exams should begin by age 30, and all women should have annual mammograms beginning at age 40.  The mammogram is an “x-ray” of the breast and the most effective method of detecting breast changes that may be cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt.  

To learn more about how you can help in the fight against breast cancer, contact the American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345.  They and other groups sponsor many unique events such as Relay for Life, Making Strides, and Race for the Cure to help raise awareness and funding for research, education, advocacy, and patient services.  By participating and helping with these events, you can make a difference. 

 

Individuals should take responsibility by following precautionary measures and by supporting friends and neighbors affected by this disease. The federal government must also make it a priority to contribute to a healthy citizenship.  That’s why I’ve joined with other members in Congress in calling upon the Administration to commit the necessary resources to finding a cure to all cancer by year 2015.  By increasing research funding, we can help to unravel the mysteries of this disease and continue working toward effective treatments and cures for advanced cancer.   

 

I’m glad that Oklahomans have also made a commitment to build a world class cancer center by the year 2007.  I’m even more proud that the colorectal cancer wing will bear the name of my late mother Janna L. Robbins.  Cancer has had a profound effect on my life, but with a renewed federal commitment to curing the disease, it shouldn’t have to touch yours.

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