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[Page S5981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 727--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2020 AS ``NATIONAL OVARIAN
CANCER AWARENESS MONTH''
Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Brown,
Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Peters, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mrs.
Capito) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 727
Whereas ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer
deaths in women in the United States and accounts for more
deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive
system;
Whereas, in the United States, a woman's lifetime risk of
being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is about 1 in 78;
Whereas the American Cancer Society estimates 21,750 new
cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in 2020 and 13,940
people will die from the disease nationwide;
Whereas the 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 46.5
percent, and survival rates vary greatly depending on the
stage of diagnosis;
Whereas the 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is over
90 percent for women diagnosed in early stages;
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, in June 2007, the first national consensus
statement on ovarian cancer symptoms was developed to provide
consistency in describing symptoms and make it easier for
women to learn and remember those symptoms;
Whereas too many people remain 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 vague symptoms that are often
easily confused with other diseases;
Whereas improved awareness of the symptoms of ovarian
cancer by the public and health care providers can lead to a
quicker diagnosis;
Whereas the lack of an early detection test for ovarian
cancer, combined with its vague symptoms, mean 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 a woman's risk
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 women who know that they are at high risk of
ovarian cancer may undertake prophylactic measures to help
reduce the risk of developing this disease;
Whereas guidelines issued by the National Comprehensive
Cancer Network (NCCN) and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology
(SGO) recommend that all individuals diagnosed with ovarian
cancer receive genetic counseling and genetic testing
regardless of their family history;
Whereas studies consistently show that compliance with such
guidelines is alarmingly low, with recently published
National Cancer Institute-funded research finding that in
2013 and 2014, only \1/3\ of ovarian cancer survivors had
undergone such testing;
Whereas, according to a 2016 consensus report by the
National Academy of Medicine, ``there remain surprising gaps
in the fundamental knowledge about and understanding of
ovarian cancer'' across all aspects of the disease;
Whereas ongoing investments in ovarian cancer research and
education and awareness efforts are critical to closing these
gaps and improving survivorship for women with ovarian
cancer;
Whereas, each year during the month of September, the
Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) and its community
partners hold a number of events to increase public awareness
of ovarian cancer and its symptoms; and
Whereas September 2020 should be designated as ``National
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month'' to increase public awareness
of ovarian cancer: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates September 2020 as ``National Ovarian Cancer
Awareness Month''; and
(2) supports the goals and ideals of National Ovarian
Cancer Awareness Month.
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