Schakowsky Remarks on Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

SCHAKOWSKY REMARKS ON COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Washington, D.C.-- U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, delivered the following statement today on the House floor in support of H. Con. Res. 302, recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

"Thank you, Madame Speaker. I want to thank Congressman Wynn for his effort to bring this critical Resolution to the floor today. I am glad to be here to speak out in strong support of H.Con.Res. 302 — a resolution to recognize March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

My family and my life — like so many others — have been touched by someone with cancer. Two and a half years ago, after fighting courageously for a year, my amazing daughter-in-law Fiona died of colorectal cancer, leaving behind two young children, a husband and many loving family members and friends. Too many of us have either struggled with cancer ourselves, or know of someone who has.

I recently saw a new study from the CDC saying that colorectal cancer testing has risen steadily since 2002 — this is very encouraging news, but another study, which appeared in CANCER journal at the end of last year, is extremely troubling to me. It shows a significant under-use of colorectal cancer screening procedures among Medicare beneficiaries. In fact, only 25 percent of Medicare beneficiaries received recommended screening during the study period.

We have to do better. We must work to expand public education and understanding of the benefits of screening. Congress needs to make it a priority to reduce the amount of out-of-pocket costs associated with cancer screenings to ensure that those who may be at risk of developing colorectal cancer get screened. And, as the richest country in the world, we need to act to make sure that everyone gets the medical care they need.

If caught early, the survival rate for colorectal cancer is over 90%, but if the
not it is just 10%.

Through the establishment of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we will add to the over 1 million colorectal cancer survivors living in America today. I urge my colleagues to support this wonderful resolution and thank the gentleman for introducing the resolution.

Thank you."