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Shown Here: Introduced in Senate (09/28/2017)
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 270 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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115th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 270
Designating September 2017 as ``National Ovarian Cancer Awareness
Month''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 28, 2017
Ms. Stabenow (for herself, Mr. Brown, Mr. King, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mr. Menendez, and Ms. Hirono) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Designating September 2017 as ``National Ovarian Cancer Awareness
Month''.
Whereas ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers;
Whereas ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women
in the United States;
Whereas, in 2017 in the United States, approximately 22,440 new cases of ovarian
cancer will be diagnosed and 14,080 women will die of ovarian cancer;
Whereas the mortality rate for ovarian cancer has not significantly decreased
since the ``War on Cancer'' was declared more than 40 years ago;
Whereas \1/4\ of women will die within 1 year of being diagnosed with ovarian
cancer and more than \1/2\ will die within 5 years of that diagnosis;
Whereas, while the mammogram can detect breast cancer and the Pap smear can
detect cervical cancer, there is no reliable early detection test for
ovarian cancer;
Whereas the lack of an early detection test means that approximately 80 percent
of cases of ovarian cancer are detected at an advanced stage;
Whereas all women are at risk for ovarian cancer, but approximately 20 percent
of women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer have a hereditary
predisposition to ovarian cancer, which places them at even higher risk;
Whereas scientists and physicians have uncovered changes in the BRCA genes that
some women inherit from their parents, which may make those women 30
times more likely to develop ovarian cancer;
Whereas the family history of a woman has been found to play an important role
in accurately assessing the risk of that woman of developing ovarian
cancer and medical experts believe that family history should be taken
into consideration during the annual well-woman visit of any woman;
Whereas many experts in health prevention now recommend genetic testing for
young women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer;
Whereas women who know that they are at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer
may undertake prophylactic measures to help reduce the risk of
developing those diseases;
Whereas, as of 2017, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology recommends that all
women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer receive counseling and
genetic testing;
Whereas many people are unaware that the symptoms of ovarian cancer often
include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling
full quickly, urinary symptoms, and several other symptoms that are
easily confused with other diseases;
Whereas awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer by women and health care
providers can lead to a quicker diagnosis;
Whereas, in June 2007, the first national consensus statement on ovarian cancer
symptoms was developed to provide consistency in describing symptoms to
make it easier for women to learn and remember those symptoms; and
Whereas, each year during the month of September, the Ovarian Cancer Research
Fund Alliance and community partners hold a number of events to increase
public awareness of ovarian cancer: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates September 2017 as ``National Ovarian Cancer
Awareness Month''; and
(2) supports the goals and ideals of National Ovarian
Cancer Awareness Month.
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