RAHALL REPORT: Give Your Father The Gift Of Health This Father's Day
From the desk of U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall, representing WV's 3rd District
Washington, DC (HNN) -- On Sunday, June 17, we come together again to celebrate Father's Day and to honor the many men whose guidance, love, and devotion has provided support and strength, not only for their own families, but also for our Nation as a whole.
Like Mother's Day, this nationwide celebration has early roots right here in West Virginia. One of the first modern Father's Day celebrations was held on July 5, 1908, during a church service at the Central Methodist Church in Marion County.
A lot has changed since then. But one thing that hasn't changed is the important role that fathers play in the lives of their children. A strong and lasting bond between a father and his child is one of the most essential requirements for a secure childhood and a successful adulthood. And one of the nicest things we can do for our fathers this Father's Day is to tell them how much we love them and how important it is to us that they stick around for a long time.
Unfortunately, many men are unwilling to be proactive about their health, putting themselves at greater risk of disease and death. This is why, in 1994, I joined my colleagues in Congress to establish a National Men's Health Week leading up to Father's Day. Again this year, I co-sponsored a resolution in the House of Representatives supporting Men's Health Week. Its goal is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease.
By highlighting the importance of prevention and detection such diseases as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and heart disease, it is our hope that more and more men will take an active role in their health, and, in turn, that more fathers will live to spend time with their grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.
The issue of prevention and early detection is one that is particularly close to my heart. As many of you are aware, I underwent prostate cancer surgery in 2004. I am very thankful for all of the West Virginians who contacted me, offering their prayers and support, as I prepared for the surgery, throughout my recovery, and even to this day.
I am also truly grateful to the doctors who diagnosed and treated my cancer. I know first-hand the importance of early examination and early detection. It saved my life. Because I was proactive, and because of the great treatment I received, I can now look forward to spending time with my own new granddaughter, Madison, who was born last year.
The fact is, prostate cancer, like breast cancer, is highly treatable when detected early. Over the years, a wide array of treatments for these cancers have been developed, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, dietary changes, and the use of various herbal supplements. And screening for these cancers is quick and easy, and can often be performed right in your physician's office.
There are approximately 10 million cancer survivors in the United States, with breast cancer and prostate cancer survivors making up the largest percentage of this group. These are encouraging numbers, but because many West Virginians still do not get regular screenings, our State's survival rates remain below the national average.
Let us all do our part to change this. Let's do it for ourselves, for our fathers, our mothers, our families and for our future. Let us start today.
The gift of health is truly one of the greatest gifts one can receive this Father's Day.