Cancer strikes all of our families.  My father passed away from cancer ten years ago, and almost everyone I talk with has had a family member impacted by the devastating effects of cancer.  The fight against cancer is heading in the right direction—an experimental stem cell replacement process used on my Dad ten years ago is now commonplace.  However, we have a long way to go in both prevention and curing cancer.  That is why I have proposed a new $5 million grant to research breast cancer here in Connecticut. 

Breast cancer hits women in Connecticut especially hard.  According to the state Department of Public Health, it is diagnosed in women more than any other cancer. According to the Susan G. Komen For The Cure Connecticut Affiliate, breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women between the ages of 40 and 59 nationally, and nearly 3,000 people in Connecticut are diagnosed with it each year.  Connecticut had the third highest rate of new breast cancers in the United States in 2000-2004, and breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in Connecticut women.

The good news is that early diagnosis is helping reduce deaths from breast cancer. Early screening is the best way to stop the cancer before it spreads.  Connecticut is part of the effort to provide early screening and diagnostic services to women who might not otherwise receive them through the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. These services are provided free to women who meet certain eligibility criteria through the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These programs are offered at various sites across the state, and anyone interested in learning more can call the state Department of Public Health at 860-509-7804.

Early screening is important, but it will never catch every case of breast cancer.  We need to come up with a cure as well.  Connecticut can take a real leadership role in breast cancer research, and my proposal will provide a large spike in funding for breast cancer research.  My proposed legislation calls for depositing $5 million in the state Department of Public Health’s existing breast cancer research and education account. This money would be used to provide grants to private and nonprofit institutions that are conducting breast cancer research.

Connecticut is very well situated to help in researching breast cancer cures.  Connecticut is home to some of the finest public and private universities in the world, and a large number of drug and life science companies like Pfizer who can commercialize new treatments.  I believe the benefits of an extra $5 million in research funds would have a multiplier effect—more private money would also flow into research, thus making a breakthrough treatment or cure more likely.

Investing in breast cancer research is about caring for family members: our mothers, our wives, our sisters and our daughters. We should be doing everything we can to spare them from the devastation of breast cancer, and I am proud to be doing a small part to treat and cure this awful disease.

Dan Debicella is the State Senator representing Stratford, Shelton, Monroe, and Seymour.  If you have feedback for him or want to talk about the issues, he can be reached toll-free at (800) 842-1421 or by e-mail at dan.debicella@cga.ct.gov.