Tracing the Path of Breast Cancer

The war on breast cancer is particularly important to the women of Vermont because our state has a disproportionately high percentage of women who die from breast cancer. These alarmingly high mortality rates present throughout the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic region led to our introduction of legislation calling for the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Breast Cancer Program. In July 2000, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published for Congress "The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Breast Cancer Study (NE/MA)," the final report for the Program's findings on breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in these regions.

The Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Breast Cancer Program became part of a larger piece of legislation that Congressman Sanders and I introduced, the Cancer Registries Amendment Act of 1992 (S 3312), which created a nationwide cancer surveillance system. Data collected by the registries keep us informed on regional cancer differences based on lifestyle, access to health care, and the carcinogenic effects of environmental contaminants.

The Vermont Cancer Registry began collecting information in November 1993. In February 2000, the Vermont Department of Health released Cancer in Vermont (requires an Adobe Reader), a report based on data collected by the Vermont Cancer Registry, which provides encouraging news for those concerned about breast cancer. The Report maintains that Vermont's breast cancer incidence rate is not higher than the rest of the country and the state's breast cancer death rate is declining. This good news reinforces the importance of continuing efforts to make mammograms and clinical breast exams available to all women.

Source: Report to the U.S. Congress: The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Breast Cancer Study (NE/MA), July 2000