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Congressman Tom Latham, a Republican representing Iowa's 4th District, publishes a weekly report on a wide variety of topics. This week, in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the column focuses on breast cancer awareness and the importance of early detection.

The full text of the Latham Report, which was released today, is below. Readers can also download a podcast/mp3 version from the Congressman's site.

Breast Cancer: One of the Most Important Issues Facing Women Today

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it is important to me that every Iowan understands just how serious breast cancer can be.

The message of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is: early detection of breast cancer followed by prompt treatment saves lives.

Breast cancer is the leading form of cancer in women in the United States, and according to the American Cancer Society, it will strike an estimated 180,000 women this year. With numbers like this, it is likely that many of us will be… or already have been… personally affected by this horrific disease. It threatens our mothers, our wives, our sisters, our daughters and our friends.

Statistics show that women living in North America have the highest rate of breast cancer in the world, yet each passing year more women than ever are able to claim that they are breast cancer survivors. In fact, if it is detected early, the breast cancer survival rate is as high as 93 percent.

Although a way to prevent the disease remains unknown, early detection is the key to survival. Through the many billions of dollars committed each year through federal and private funds for research and prevention efforts, there continues to be very promising news and developments regarding the fight against breast cancer. However, despite this promising news, thousands of our mothers, daughters, wives, and friends continue to battle this horrific disease that strikes both their bodies… and their souls.

The best methods of early detection and survival of breast cancer are self-examination and mammograms, yet only half of women age 40 and older in the United States have regular screening mammograms. This simple procedure is recommended every three years for women aged 20 through 39… and every year beginning at age 40. Mammograms can reveal breast cancer up to two years before it can be found in a self-examination. And while Iowans are known to be, on average, healthier than most Americans, there are still 40 percent of women over 40… in Iowa… who do not get mammograms. We have a long way to go.

And that begs the question: How can you help?

Get involved. There are many groups throughout our state dedicated to breast cancer awareness, advocacy and prevention. They can provide detailed breast cancer information, locations of support groups, referrals to medical facilities and telephone counseling with breast cancer survivors. They can also tell you about low-cost or free mammography programs. In fact, since the last National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I've personally sat down with the Iowa Breast Cancer Advocacy Network, the Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation, and the Iowa representatives from the One Voice Against Cancer Foundation.

I've helped my colleagues in Congress find ways to support research into the causes of breast cancer so that, hopefully, we can find a cure and eradicate it. While these organizations, along with the American Cancer Society and the National Institutes of Health, look for a cure, I urge you to help support those with breast cancer in your own communities. By volunteering your time, helping to raise money or by simply giving a donation, we can come together to find an end to breast cancer.

My hope and prayer is that someday we will have the ability to eliminate all forms of cancer. Until then, we must take charge of our health through early detection and treatment. So remind those you love to take charge of their health, perform regular self-examinations and get check-ups that include mammograms.

I applaud Latham for discussing breast cancer and the need for early detection in fighting this disease. If he's reading, I want him to know that my friends who are not getting regular mammograms are skipping the tests due to cost. Insurance does often cover the screening, but only after a woman reaches a certain age or after a doctor orders it (typically after a woman finds a possible problem during self-examination). In other instances, the screenings have been placed in a "deductible" area by insurance companies. That means that although the cost of the exam is technically covered by insurance, a woman must pay out of pocket. The actual fee associated with the exam counts toward certain deductibles within the policy -- for instance, other out-patient or lab procedures.

Since breast cancer is typically a very treatable disease when caught in the early stages, perhaps there is benefit to Congress offering incentives to medical providers who provide free screening opportunities to women. It would seem to me that such incentives would be a win-win-win-win situation for insurance companies, women, medical professionals and the government.

I also applaud Latham for his work associated with the recently approved legislation -- the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act -- that seeks to end the practice of "drive-through" mastectomies. The bill, which Latham co-sponsored, was approved by the U.S. House and will now travel to the Senate for its consideration.

As a Girl Scout leader, I also want to take a moment to encourage leaders of older girls to get involved in the breast cancer fight. It may embarrass some of our young women to think about breast self-exam, but it's a practice that can save their lives. As such, it is something we should not shy away from learning about and discussing as part of staying healthy.