October 12, 2007

Breast Cancer Awareness

By Congressman Joe Pitts

Recently, I lost a friend to breast cancer.  Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis of the First District of Virginia passed away on Saturday, October 6, at the age of 57, two years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Sue Myrick, a close friend of Jo Ann and a fellow Congresswoman from North Carolina, herself a breast cancer survivor, gave a touching address at the memorial service.  "We really have lost a great American today," Myrick said, and not a person in the room would have disagreed. 

Her pastor, Rev. Bobby Collins said she was never quite at home amid the money and power of Washington. She was more comfortable sitting on the back porch of her country home than in her seat in the Capitol, he said.  She was known on Capitol Hill as a woman of integrity.  Those of us who worked with her will miss her presence in Congress. 

There is no loss of irony in Representative Davis’ passing over the weekend.  October is designated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Though a disease like breast cancer should always maintain our attention, moments like this are cause to spend a little extra time talking about the disease and what we might do to prevent the loss of women like Jo Ann.    

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in the United States.  An estimated 178,480 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007.  About 40,460 women will die from the disease this year.  As with any type of cancer, early detection greatly increases chances for survival. 

The seriousness of the disease has been matched by the work of non-profits, public service organizations, private companies, and the federal government in an effort to increase awareness and develop treatments.  This year, the federal government will spend an estimated $817 million researching treatments for breast cancer.  In fact, the federal government will spend almost $5 billion total in cancer research.   

The pink ribbon has become a symbol synonymous with breast cancer awareness.  Events like the Race for the Cure are held all across the United States throughout the year to highlight the cause and raise money for education and research into finding a cure for this terrible disease.   

And yet, each time we lose someone close, the significance of the disease takes on a new meaning and motivates a renewed effort to speak out on the issue.

Know the factors that may put you at greater risk for the disease, like age and family history.  Self exams and clinical screening are important to early detection.     

Though this is Breast Cancer Awareness month, we must not lose sight of the other cancers that require early detection.  Men of the appropriate age should be intentional about screening for prostate cancer.  Women need also be aware of the possibility of cervical cancer.  Colon cancer is one of the most important cancers to catch early.  Though there is no medical cure for cancer, the facts are undeniable that the current treatments are far more effective when the cancer is found early on. 

There are several websites that contain information on detection, treatments and research.  The American Cancer Society www.cancer.org and the National Cancer Institute www.cancer.gov are both good resources.

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