Hill Country News, Feb. 1, 2007
By U.S. Senator John Cornyn
Good news on a subject that often can mean bad news came this month from the American Cancer Society. The downward trend of cancer-related deaths first reported in 2003 continued in 2004. This positive news should provide hope to Texans that patients can survive cancer - especially if it is detected early. What's more, this downward trend indicates that America's grassroots efforts to control the disease are indeed making a difference. In January, many educators and volunteers worked to promote Cervical Cancer Prevention Month. For instance, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center offers the "Spit Tobacco Prevention Network," volunteers working to eliminate spit or chewing tobacco statewide Volunteers from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston manage the Cancer Nutrition Network, providing rural populations with information about the relationship between cancer prevention and nutrition.