On average, every three minutes another American woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. Today 1.6 million women have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and another 1 million women have the disease but have not yet been diagnosed. Women in America have a 1 in 8 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. This disease can strike any woman. Less than 10 percent of new cases are diagnosed in women whose families have a history of the disease.
Breast cancer is a deadly disease.
It is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women 15 to 52 years of age. This increase represents a major step forward, but still more must be done. Tom Lantos is a leading voice in the Congress for aggressive action to deal with breast cancer. He has sponsored legislation to increase funding for research on breast cancer, to create a special breast cancer stamp to allow postal patrons to contribute to funding for breast-cancer research through the voluntary purchase of these special stamps, and to require that health plans provide coverage for an adequate hospital stay for women undergoing mastectomies and reconstructive surgery in connection with breast cancer treatment.