DeLauro, Ayotte, Stabenow, Israel Introduce Ovarian Cancer Awareness Resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Representatives Steve Israel (NY-3) and Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), as well as Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), introduced a resolution designating September as “National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.”
“As the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers and an illness without early detection tests, ovarian cancer is one of the leading killers of women in the United States and around the world,” the Members said. “Designating September as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month will help raise public awareness about the disease and promote research, as well as early detection and prevention efforts – helping to save the lives of women across the country.”
The full text of the resolution follows:
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 2015, approximately 21,290 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed, and 14,180 women will die of ovarian cancer in the United States;
Whereas the mortality rate for ovarian cancer has not significantly decreased since the ‘‘War on Cancer’’ was declared more than 40 years ago;
Whereas 25 percent of women will die within 1 year of diagnosis with ovarian cancer and over 50 percent will die within 5 years;
Whereas while there is the mammogram to detect breast cancer and the Pap smear to 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, and approximately 20 percent of women 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 them 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 they are at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer may undertake prophylactic measures to help reduce the risk of developing these diseases;
Whereas the Society of Gynecologic Oncology now recommends that all women 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 the symptoms; and
Whereas each year during the month of September, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and partner members hold a number of events to increase public awareness of ovarian cancer: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) designates September 2015 as ‘‘National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month’’; and (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
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