Raise Awareness and Work Toward a Cure
This month my wife Barbara celebrated her birthday. These celebrations offer a special time to appreciate each other’s company and count one’s blessings. Traditions and warm wishes from friends and family help make the annual milestone memorable. In addition, one of Barbara’s birthday rituals is keeping her annual mammography appointment.
Ever since Barbara was diagnosed with breast cancer 24 years ago, in 1987, like tens of thousands of other Iowa families affected by this disease, we give thanks for each day we have together. We also have joined the cause to raise awareness and raise hope for the sisters, mothers, wives and friends who are courageously battling their diagnosis, facing surgery and making serious medical decisions about their treatments and therapy.
Thanks to a routine screening and early detection, Barbara’s diagnosis resulted in a successful treatment plan. She is among the legion of women and men across America who has received arguably the worst news of their lives and faced mortality head-on. We are grateful that my wife is among the victims of this pernicious disease who reached and exceeded the five-year survival rate.
In 1987, the five-year survival rate for U.S. women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer was 86.2 percent. The latest statistics available show the five-year survival rate for invasive breast cancer is 90.6 percent. The good news is that progress is going in the right direction. The bad news is breast cancer still awaits a cure.
Despite advances in medical science and technology, the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health estimates that new cases of breast cancer in 2011 will affect 230,480 women and 2,140 men. It also estimates 39,520 women and 450 men will die from the disease this year.
Barbara agrees with medical researchers and health care professionals who say early detection greatly increases treatment options and the chance for survival. Many health care practitioners recommend women conduct monthly breast self-exams, receive a clinical breast exam at their annual wellness check, and receive regular mammograms.
In the two decades since Barbara’s diagnosis, preventive screenings, early detection and advanced treatment options have made amazing strides that have saved tens of thousands of lives. Remarkable efforts by patient advocacy groups, medical researchers, health care providers, corporate citizens, private individuals and the taxpaying public have raised hope, public awareness and funding in search of a cure that will benefit current and future generations of Americans.
Breast cancer patients today have a range of treatment options to fight their disease, from surgery to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy.
In the last quarter-century, amazing community partnerships have marshaled resources and advanced efforts to prevent breast cancer from taking another mother away from her children or separating a wife from her husband. Iowans can join in this effort. Look for a local event in your neighborhood or hometown to attend, volunteer or donate.
In the U.S. Senate, I support public policy measures that expand access to preventive services and treatments for breast cancer patients, especially low-income patients, and voted in support of a law on the books today that authorizes federal grants to research the origins of breast cancer. I’ve repeatedly supported extensions of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. Since 1998, the stamp has raised more than $73 million for breast cancer research.
This October marked the 25th year of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Barbara and I joined thousands of other concerned Iowans at the Komen Race for the Cure in Des Moines last weekend. It’s inspiring to see so many join together to fight the disease and to remember those who have lost their lives to breast cancer. Together we can raise hope and raise awareness to help save lives so that more survivors like Barbara can celebrate another birthday with their loved ones.
