House Votes to Pass Hall's Resolution on Ovarian Cancer
HOUSE VOTES TO PASS HALL'S RESOLUTION ON OVARIAN CANCER
November 7, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. ...Today, the House of Representatives voted unanimously in support of Rep. Ralph Hall's (R-TX/4) resolution to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. Hall introduced the resolution to draw attention to the little-known disease and honor his former staffer, Grace Warren, who is battling the illness.
"I am pleased that the House overwhelmingly voted in favor of this resolution," Hall said. "Named after my longtime legislative director, this initiative seeks to turn around the grim statistics that plague this disease."
Grace's resolution highlights the fact that ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. While the risk of dying from cancer continues to decline every year, ovarian cancer does not follow that trend. "As the National Cancer Institute statistics demonstrate, a woman's risk of dying from ovarian cancer is no less today than it was ten years ago," Hall explained.
Currently, there is not a reliable screening test for the disease, making it difficult to diagnose the cancer in an early stage. Hall's resolution supports further research to develop early detection tools, prevention methods, and a cure. "Unfortunately, funding for ovarian cancer research decreased from fiscal year 2003 to fiscal year 2004 by $7 million," Hall mentioned. "I would like to call on appropriators to adequately fund ovarian cancer research, and I would like to see the National Cancer Institute step up their efforts to find an early detection test."
Until an adequate test is found, the best way to reduce the incidence of mortality is to raise awareness of the symptoms. "Women who present with common symptoms such as abdominal pressure, nausea, indigestion, unusual fatigue, and unexplained weight gain or loss should not ignore these warning signs," Hall said. "For Grace and all the other women who fight this disease every day, I say to you that I will keep fighting, too, until we find a cure."
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/tx04_hall/pr11072005.html