Panel OKs tax checkoff for cancer ed

Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News

Published March 29, 2007 at midnight

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Teri Cole was shocked when she learned 16 months ago that she had Stage 3 ovarian cancer.

"It is the cancer that whispers because the symptoms are so subtle," said Cole, 56, of Denver. "There are women all over who have the symptoms and don't know."

Cole was among a half-dozen women - almost all cancer survivors - who testified before the House Finance Committee on Wednesday in support of a measure creating a tax checkoff to fund education, screening and support for men and women who have breast cancer or women with reproductive cancers.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Dianne Primavera, D-Broomfield, who is a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988 and cervical cancer in 1992.

"The evaluation of women's cancers affect not only the women, but their families," Primavera said,

Randy Randall testified that he was the caretaker for both his wife, who is an ovarian cancer survivor, and his mother, a breast cancer survivor.

He said that when his wife, Reggie, was diagnosed, doctors found a 15-pound tumor.

"If only we had caught it earlier," he said.

Hannah Clark, 25, of Arvada, testified that there are few resources for women under the age of 40 with cancer.

"I had to find my own treatment," said Clark, who was diagnosed last year with breast cancer.

The committee voted 9-2 to move the bill to the Appropriations Committee. Rep. Kevin Lund-berg, R-Berthoud, was one of the two who opposed the measure, saying he doesn't think the checkoff system is fair to organizations that are less popular but just as worthy.

"I will be the loyal opposition on this issue and will be voting 'no,' " he said.

If the bill passes, along with another plan to create a checkoff to fund a war memorial, the legislature will have to change the state statute that limits checkoffs to 15 on Colorado's income tax form.

Detecting it early

Early symptoms for ovarian cancer can include the following:

• Stomach swelling

• Vaginal bleeding

• Pelvic pressure, back/leg pain

• Gas, bloating, long-term stomach pain, constipation, indigestionSource: American Cancer Society

fongt@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5489

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