DeLauro, Slotkin Introduce Ovarian Cancer Awareness Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) introduced a resolution to designate September as "National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month" and highlight the impact of this disease on families across the United States. DeLauro, a 33-year survivor of ovarian cancer, and Slotkin, who lost her mom to ovarian cancer, draw attention to the approximately 21,750 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed and 13,940 women who will die of ovarian cancer this year alone.

"The fight against this disease is personal for me," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "My own ovarian cancer was detected in its earliest stages purely by chance during an unrelated doctor's visit. I consider myself extremely fortunate, but no woman should have to rely on luck alone. We must do all we can to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. We must also fight for increased investments in biomedical research and strong paid family and medical leave legislation, so women and families do not have to choose between healing or caring for loved ones and their paycheck. There is a powerful role for Congress in this work, and I am thrilled to have my colleague, Representative Slotkin, as a partner in this fight."

"My mom was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer after walking into an emergency room in 2009," said Congresswoman Slotkin. "At the time, she didn't have health insurance –– she had let it lapse after years of struggling to afford her health insurance because of her pre-existing condition. My mom's story is far too common, and there's still much work to be done –– not only to make health care more affordable but to raise awareness about ovarian cancer, which is the fifth leading cause of death for women in the United States. Unfortunately, for 90 percent of women, it is detected only in its latest stages, like it was for my mom. I'm proud to join Rep. DeLauro to introduce this resolution dedicating September as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, to help spread the word about this disease's early symptoms and impacts."

Research indicates that more than forty-five percent of women with ovarian cancer will pass away within five years of diagnosis. There is currently no early detection test for ovarian cancer, so approximately 90 percent of women are diagnosed in later stages, where survival is significantly decreased.

Roughly 20 percent of women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer have a hereditary predisposition to ovarian cancer, which places them at even higher risk. Scientists and physicians have uncovered changes in the BRCA genes that some women inherit from their parents, which may make these women 30 times more likely to develop ovarian cancer.

Despite ovarian cancer being the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States, DeLauro and Slotkin highlight that more must be done to spread awareness of this disease.

The full text of this resolution is available here.