Last weekend, M. Jody Rell, the new Connecticut Governor, was told that she had breast cancer. Today, she underwent surgery to remove her breasts and hopefully, her cancer.
(Today is the day when the press found out about her diagnosis.) This is extremely shocking, but sadly, it really shouldn't be. Every 2 minutes an American is diagnosed, while every 13 minutes an American dies of this horrible epidemic. Although, luckily, Rell's cancer was cought early while receiving a routine mamogram. But, unfortunately, breast cancer is not caught early for many, many women and men. Something has to be done about this terrible disease that claims the lives of hundreds of thousands every years. But still, Bush&Republicans have done nearly nothing dealing with breast cancer. A bill with 61 cosponsers that examines how breast cancer is related to the environment was not voted on, because Republicans refused to bring it up for a vote. (This research is desperately needed, for 90% of breast cancer cases are caused by the environment.) During his first four years, Bush also ruined the patients bill of rights (after lying, on the 2000 campaign trail, about passing a Texas Patients Bill of Rights, when he actually vetoed it). The Patients Bill of Rights that Bush proposed favored the drug companies/insurance companies over the patients. Hopefully the diagnosis of Rell, a Republican who took over after Rowland resigned, will open the eyes of Bush, the Republicans and America to this horrible disease. Something must be done, but I fear that something can't be done with Bush in office.