I plan to emphasize cancer prevention in the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) budget as much as possible this year.

I am a member of the Health and Human Services Budget Subcommittee. We consider fifteen agency budgets during our subcommittee meetings, making recommendations on each of them to the full Finance Committee.

One of the largest and most important is that of DHEC. I hope to raise awareness of the importance of early screening for breast and cervical cancer and colorectal cancer. I have requested that funds be set aside to support the Best Chance Network. This network presently Screens nearly 9,000 women for breast and cervical. cancer each year, but this reaches less than 10% of eligible women in our state.

More than 3,000 South Carolina women will be diagnosed this year with breast or cervical cancer. While these cancers are fairly evenly distributed among women of all ages, races, and incomes, access to screening and medical care for these diseases is not.

The grim truth is that racial and ethnic minorities, low-income women and those with little or no health insurance are less likely to receive appropriate care and are more Ii kely to die.

Currently, this screening program gets by on federal funds, but we feel it is time to supplement the federal funds with a state commitment.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in South Carolina and the United States. It is estimated that 90'70 of those deaths could be prevented through appropriate screening. The American Cancer Society estimated that nearly 800 South Carolinians would die as a result of colorectal cancer in South Carolina.

We are poised to take the lead in the fight againstcolorectal cancer because of the stellar team of physicians, basic science researchers, public health professionals and co 10 rectal cancer survivors anxious to eliminate colorectal cancer in South Carolina. Colorectal cancer screening is primary prevention and will save lives and our precious health care resources.

This team has requested funding for the screening of those ages 50 to 64 who are without insurance and otherwise qualify for the

One of the physicians who works with the team, told me that every time he removes polyps from someone's colon, he KNOWS that he has prevented cancer from developing in that patient, because colorectal cancer always starts as a polyp. Colorectal screening very simply saves lives. It is a very worthwhile endeavor indeed.

Thank you for allowing me to represent you as your State Senator. It is my privilege and I will strive to do the best job I can for you. Please feel free to contact me on any issue. I can be reached at my home address, 120 W. End Street, Chester, S. C., 29706 or at my legislative office in Columbia, Post Office Box 142, Columbia, S. C. 29202, 803-212-6148, or through my Email address - LHS@scsenate.org.