{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=52261DF4-6B12-44CE-BCDA-FD4116E5C610", "Weekly Column: Think Pink", "2014-10-10", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "SD", "Kristi Noem", "N000184", "noem.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "We dread the idea of hearing \u00a0the word \u201ccancer.\u201d \u00a0How could we not?\u00a0 It indicates a battle, a life-threatening illness, an uncertainty about the future.\u00a0 It is difficult to watch a loved one go through it; I can\u2019t imagine what it would be like to take on that battle myself.\r\nMost families in South Dakota have been impacted in one way or another by cancer.\u00a0 This month, we turn our attention specifically to breast cancer, which more than 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with each year.\u00a0 Except for skin cancers, this is the most common cancer among American women, although it\u2019s important to note that men can be diagnosed with it as well.\u00a0 In 2013, there were 600 reported cases of breast cancer and more than 100 breast cancer-related deaths in South Dakota.\r\nThrough the increased awareness each October and the dedication of advocacy groups and medical researchers, we are gaining more and more information about how this disease works.\u00a0 This information gives us better tools to detect breast cancer early and moves us closer to finding a cure.\r\nBreast cancer knows no boundaries.\u00a0 It is not constrained by age, gender, or geographic location.\u00a0 Nonetheless, there are factors that put you at greater risk.\u00a0 Being a woman and getting older are the most common risk factors.\u00a0 A woman\u2019s risk of breast cancer also increases if she has a mother, sister or daughter who has been diagnosed with it.\u00a0 On the other side of the coin, getting regular physical activity, eating healthy, and limiting alcohol intake can help lower your risk.\r\nOther than changing your lifestyle, the most important thing you can do is detect it early.\u00a0 The National Breast Cancer foundation has created one tool to help you make an early detection plan.\u00a0 Just visit www.earlydetectionplan.org.\u00a0 98 percent of people who detect breast cancer early survive past the critical five-year milestone.\r\nToday, there are more than 3 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.\u00a0 South Dakotan Debbie Reeves is one of these survivors.\u00a0 Despite the challenges, Debbie has seemed to stay incredibly positive. \u00a0Earlier this year, she told news outlets, \u201cCancer is no fun, but you learn from it\u2026. There were so many gifts that came out of breast cancer.\u00a0 My children\u2019s faith grew and my husband and I are just great.\u00a0 And although I would never, ever want to do it again, I would do it again in a heartbeat to get gifts like that.\u201d\r\nFor many survivors, the battle does not end after a clean scan.\u00a0 The physical, emotional, and even spiritual healing may continue for years to come.\u00a0 If you are a survivor, there are resources for you throughout South Dakota.\u00a0 Sanford Health has a Cancer Survivorship Program, which includes Embracing Life retreats for survivors of breast cancer.\u00a0 Avera has programs as well, including their \u201cA Time to Heal\u201d series.\u00a0\r\nThis month, please join me in thinking pink.\u00a0 Use this as motivation to put together an early detection plan.\u00a0 Urge your friends and family to do the same.\u00a0 Learn more about breast cancer and how it could be impacting your mom, your neighbor, or you through resources like www.beyondtheshock.com.\u00a0 Find out how you can be a support system for those impacted. Get involved in one of the many breast cancer awareness activities throughout South Dakota this month.\u00a0 Together, we can beat this.\r\nI\u2019ll close this column with this message for women facing the battle.\u00a0 It is a line from a tribute written by Olivia Newton-John, herself a survivor of breast cancer:\u00a0 \u201cFight each round.\u00a0 Take it on the chin.\u00a0 And never, never, never ever give in.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=52261DF4-6B12-44CE-BCDA-FD4116E5C610"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8050140459090471, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}