Tester highlights efforts to improve breast cancer awareness and research

Senator takes on leading cause of death for Montana women

(U.S. SENATE) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester is supporting multiple initiatives to fight breast cancer as part of his effort to curtail the number one cause of cancer-related death among Montana women.

Tester recently signed onto Senate legislation re-authorizing the postage stamp to raise money for breast cancer research.  He also joined a Senate bipartisan resolution emphasizing the need to improve cancer screening–especially among medically underserved women.  Tester’s resolution also highlights the importance of detecting breast cancer early in order to improve survival rates. 

“Breast cancer is a disease that we can fight with knowledge, better understanding and early detection,” said Tester, noting that when breast cancer is detected early and confined, the five-year relative survival rate is 98 percent. “Raising awareness about breast cancer and efforts to diagnose, treat and fighting it are important steps toward getting the upper hand on this terrible disease.  It’s going to take a team of Republicans and Democrats working together in Congress, and I’m proud to be part of that team.”

“Raising public awareness of the importance of early cancer detection is crucial so that women utilize available screening procedures and opportunities,” Tester added.

Tester helped designate this past May as “National Cancer Research Month.”

Tester has consistently supported breast cancer research by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense as part of the Department’s effort to find cures for diseases that particularly affect the military community.

Nationwide, more than 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.

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