August 5, 2009

This publication is your opportunity to receive regular updates on the work and the issues that I have been involved with, both in Harrisburg and throughout our community.

Please visit my Web site, www.senatorhughes.com, where you will find a comprehensive overview of our work, various phone numbers and contact information to assist you in solving problems, opportunities to volunteer and assist us in our programs and opportunities to give your feedback.
 

Improving Health Care

As Democratic Chair of the Senate’s Public Health and Welfare Committee and one of the General Assembly’s leading advocates for improving health care, I have worked to guide state policy and target state resources to initiatives that would have the greatest possible positive impact on the most people.

My efforts have been wide-ranging and far-reaching. They involve promoting AIDS research, testing and outreach, funding key cancer programs and services, and addressing children’s health care among others.

Recently, it was my pleasure and great honor to be asked to appear on a national panel of experts and decision makers to discuss breast and cervical cancer and explore what state policymakers are doing to battle this disease. The group met and discussed health care at the National Conference of State Legislators meeting in Philadelphia last month.

July 20, 2009 — Hughes participates in 'Collaborating to Fight Cancer Workshop' at the 2009 NCSL. Participants: Moderator, Sen. Judy Lee, North Dakota State Senate; Speakers: Gerald Cook, Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Georgia Joanne Corte Grossi, Office of Women's Services; Pat Halpin-Murphy, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition; and Sen. Vincent J. Hughes, Pennsylvania Senate

The panel discussed state strategies now being utilized to combat cancer. It has been many years since the national war on cancer was declared in 1971. While there have been a great many strides, we have also failed to address the disease on many fronts. Our work continues.

While the national government has been engaged in fighting cancer in earnest in the 1970’s, Pennsylvania has been actively working on the issue as well. We have a number of very highly-regarded programs in-place actively helping fight the disease. However, Republican budget plans may derail our success and curtail our advances.

If anything close to the original Republican budget plan were to be enacted after painful negotiations, important funding for key anti-cancer initiatives and institutions would either be eliminated or threatened.

Here is a sample of the impact of the Republican budget:

Women Living with Breast and Cervical Cancer Deserve Better Treatment

In Pennsylvania, Breast Cancer is the leading cancer among Pennsylvania women and is the second leading cause of overall female cancer deaths in Pennsylvania.

The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is about 1 in 8 (12%). The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman's death is about 1 in 35 (about 3%).

In 2009, an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States.

About 4,070 women will die from cervical cancer in the United States during 2009. Cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women.

The cervical cancer death rate declined by 74% between 1955 and 1992. The main reason for this change is the increased use of the Pap test. All cervical cancer deaths should be considered preventable. Pap tests and pelvic exams can detect cervical cancer early, when it can be easily treated.

These statistics alone are critical reasons that cancer research and treatment must be adequately funded. Women in Pennsylvania deserve better than to watch hopelessly as funding to cancer centers and research is deeply cut.
 

More Ways to Stay Connected

I am excited to announce that you can now find me on Facebook.  Become a fan today and keep track of what I’m doing in the community and in the General Assembly.

New technology is the key not only to communication, but to education, economic development, and social progress. I always enjoy hearing from my constituents and I particularly look forward to connecting with you through those new means.