Representing North Carolina’s Ninth District                                                                        

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  To me, it is one of the most important months of the year because 5 years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

 My world was turned upside down when I heard the words, “You have cancer.”  I had received my annual mammogram, which didn’t reveal anything unusual.  Shortly thereafter, in September 1999, I started having pain in my breast, so I went to have another mammogram.  Again, the mammogram came back negative, but my pain continued. 

 In spite of having three negative mammograms, and five different doctors perform physical exams that didn’t reveal anything out of the ordinary, I knew something was wrong.  The conventional wisdom is that you don’t feel pain with breast cancer, but I decided to ignore the conventional wisdom and listen to what my body was trying to tell me.  I persisted and got a doctor to do an ultrasound in November 1999, and there was the tumor, plain as day. 

 Fortunately, the cancer was found in time.  I underwent surgery.  I chose and completed preventative chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and today, I am cancer free.

I now speak about breast cancer to anyone willing to listen.  I want to make sure that every woman is aware of this disease, and the need to be vigilant with yearly mammograms and self-exams. 

 Many women come up to me and tell me that they are afraid to have a mammogram because of what it might reveal.  I’m not going to lie to you.  Finding out that you have cancer is scary; but early detection drastically increases your chances of beating the disease.  It’s far better to find out early and have a fighting chance, then to wait until it’s too late.

 As a member of Congress, I have the unique opportunity to be an advocate for breast cancer prevention, treatment, and research.  For several years now I have been a co-chair of the House Cancer Caucus.  Our mission is to educate our congressional colleagues on the issues surrounding all types of cancer and to advance legislation that will help us eradicate this disease and provide a better quality of life for cancer patients. 

One of our biggest successes this year was getting five breast cancer oral drugs covered by Medicare and included in the Medicare Modernization Act.  Successful breast cancer drugs, such as tamoxifen, had not been previously covered by Medicare, but beginning last month Medicare beneficiaries undergoing cancer treatments now have access to these lifesaving drugs. 

Another key aspect of cancer advocacy is prevention.  Women want to do all they can to reduce their risk of breast cancer or a recurrence.  However, little is known about how the millions of environmental exposures we encounter each day impact the incidence of breast cancer.  The overall issue of what causes breast cancer and the association between the environment and breast cancer has been understudied.

 It’s important that we get answers to these questions and study the environmental, diet, and lifestyle factors that may be related to the development of breast cancer.  With this goal, Representative Nita Lowey and I have introduced the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act, which would establish grants for the creation and operation of research centers to study this matter. 

 I’m optimistic about the future.  The scientific advances that are occurring, especially in the area of gene therapy, bring us closer to a cure everyday.  But, until we do find a cure, I want to encourage women to begin their check-ups during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  You should also encourage your friends, daughters, sisters, and mothers to get their mammograms and perform self-exams to prevent someone you love from becoming another statistic.  There is no better time to start than now.

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