Pelosi Statement on National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Pelosi Statement on National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Friday, October 28, 2005

Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. â€" House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

â€Å"October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month â€" a time for us to honor those who have dedicated their lives to preventing breast cancer and to renew our commitment to increasing public awareness about the importance of early detection.

â€Å"Since the National Breast Cancer Awareness program began in 1985, mammography rates have climbed, programs have been placed at the national, state and local levels to broaden access and improve screening, and funding for breast cancer research has increased significantly. Research is improving prevention, detection, and treatment options for breast cancer, and breast cancer death rates have begun to decline.

â€Å"Despite this success, our work is far from done. In my district of San Francisco, breast cancer rates are more than 12 percent higher than they were 15 years ago. These rates are significantly higher than the rest of the nation, and public health officials are searching for answers. We must understand what could be causing such a dramatic rise, especially when three out of four women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of cancer or other known risk factors. For these women, environmental factors may be the link to their cancer.

â€Å"Last year, I introduced legislation that would enable our public health system to monitor disease rates and environmental hazards, and help professionals better understand the causes of breast cancer. This investment in research and technology is critical to improving a woman’s chances of survival.

â€Å"As we commemorate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we remember those who have lost their lives to breast cancer and salute the more than 2 million breast cancer survivors in the United States, and the efforts of victims, volunteers, and professionals who work to combat this disease each day.”