Washington, Oct 15, 2003 - - A serious battle is being waged on the domestic front to protect the health and the lives of millions of American women. Doctors, scientists and caring citizens all across America are making great strides in the war against one of the leading killers among women - breast cancer. There is no better time for all Americans to join the fight than now, during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The widespread impact of breast cancer is staggering. Every year, almost 184,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer and sadly more than 44,000 will die from the disease. In New Mexico alone there are currently between 10,000-15,000 people living with breast cancer. More than 1,000 New Mexican women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. More than 200 will die. These are not just faceless women; they are our wives, our mothers, our sisters, our daughters and our co-workers. This is a war worth fighting, and a war we will win.

I made a commitment to the fight against breast cancer when I cosponsored H.R. 918. This bill authorizes the Health Resources and Services Administration, the National Cancer Institute and the Indian Health Service to make and distribute grants for model programs to provide to individuals of health disparity populations prevention, early detection, treatment and appropriate follow-up care services for cancer and other chronic diseases.

Early detection is an important step to surviving breast cancer. Breast exams performed by a health provider and mammograms are still the best ways to detect breast cancer at an early, treatable stage. The National Cancer Institute and the United States Preventive Services Task Force agree that for women who are 50 or over, a mammogram every 1 to 2 years can greatly reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer. I encourage all women to consult with their health provider and obtain appropriate screenings to help with early detection.

Right in our own backyard, we have decent and caring people who have made early detection their profession. The New Mexico Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NMBCCEDP) provides free comprehensive breast and cervical cancer screenings services to eligible low-income women across the state. Since the inception of this program, nearly 160,000 clinical breast exams have been performed, and lives have been because of early detection.

Tell your family, neighbors and friends about the New Mexico Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Take advantage of these services by contacting the New Mexico Department of Health at 1-877-852-2585. Thanks to the work of programs like this, more women are beating the odds and beating breast cancer.

Cancer research is a national priority. That is why Congress has consistently provided the necessary funding to expand breast cancer research through the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For the past five years, Congress has kept pace with its goal to double the budget of the NIH by 2004. The increase of more than $3.7 billion to NIH has been included in the budget for Fiscal Year 04. This is a remarkable testament to the commitment to and importance of cancer research.

America research labs and pharmaceutical companies have reported they are making exciting new strides in breast cancer research. Genes responsible for inheritable breast cancer have been isolated. New drugs like tamoxifen has been shown to prevent the disease in woman who are considered "high risk," meaning they are genetically predisposed to breast cancer. And scientists are developing a better understanding of the cancer cell itself. We now have the armor and weapons needed for the fight against this disease.

I am encouraged that this disease is getting the attention it deserves. The number of women dying from breast cancer was lower in 2001 than in the previous 3 years. More women are surviving the disease longer and a greater percentage are being diagnosed at the earlier more treatable stages. The experts tell us that this is a direct reflection of the recent increase in early detection, research and treatment. This is a profound time of hope.

I find the most encouragement in the bravery, determination and shear tenacity of breast cancer survivors. While I do not have a lot of pink in my closet, I would proudly wear the symbolic pink ribbon to show my admiration for those who have survived, and in reverence to those we have lost. The fight against the disease is a national battle and we are making progress on many fronts. The war against breast cancer is every American's war to win.

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