Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Floor Speech

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH -- (House of Representatives - October 26, 2005)

(Mrs. CAPITO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. CAPITO. Madam Speaker, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In West Virginia alone, 270 women will lose their lives to breast cancer in 2005 while an estimated 1,410 new cases will be diagnosed.

The impact of breast cancer goes well beyond the individual to impact her family, her friends, as well as change the path in life the woman is leading.

Regular breast self-examinations, mammograms, and regular visits with a doctor give a woman her greatest chance for overcoming breast cancer.

These reasons are why women, especially women over 50 and women who have a history of breast cancer, should visit their doctor regularly. My husband Charlie lost his mother and his aunt to breast cancer over 30 years ago. Since that time advancements in treatment and educational efforts have increased the 5-year survival rate to 98 percent if the cancer is found and treated before it spreads.

As this Republican-led Congress continues its commitment to fund research efforts, we must also continue efforts to educate women and ensure they have access to proper health care. We owe it to thousands of women, and their families, we have lost to breast cancer. We owe it to ourselves and our daughters for their futures.

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