[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 144 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 144

             Supporting early detection for breast cancer.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 13, 2011

 Mrs. Hutchison submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
       to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
             Supporting early detection for breast cancer.

Whereas the 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer has increased from 
        74 percent in 1979 to 90 percent in 2011;
Whereas when breast cancer is detected early and confined to the breast, the 5-
        year relative survival rate is 98 percent;
Whereas the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program 
        (referred to in this preamble as the ``NBCCEDP'') was established by the 
        Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
        300k et seq.) to provide early detection services for low-income women 
        who are uninsured or underinsured and do not qualify for Medicaid;
Whereas the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 
        (Public Law 106-354; 114 Stat. 1381) allows for breast cancer treatment 
        assistance to be provided through Medicaid to eligible women who were 
        screened through the NBCCEDP;
Whereas NBCCEDP and the provisions of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention 
        and Treatment Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-354; 114 Stat. 1381) have 
        effectively reduced mortality among low-income uninsured and medically 
        underserved women with breast cancer;
Whereas early detection of breast cancer increases survival rates for the 
        disease, as evidenced by a 5-year relative survival rate of 98 percent 
        for breast cancers that are discovered before the cancer spreads beyond 
        the breast, compared to 23 percent for stage IV breast cancers;
Whereas the cost of treating stage IV breast cancers is more than 5 times more 
        expensive than the cost of treating stage I breast cancers;
Whereas as of the date of agreement to this resolution, the economy has placed a 
        strain on State budgets while increasing the demand for safety-net 
        services;
Whereas significant disparities in breast cancer outcomes persist across racial 
        and ethnic groups;
Whereas breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and is the leading 
        cause of cancer death among women worldwide;
Whereas in 2011, more than 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with breast 
        cancer and more than 40,000 will die of breast cancer in the United 
        States;
Whereas every woman should have access to life-saving screening and treatment 
        that is not dependent on where she lives;
Whereas investments in cancer research have improved the understanding of the 
        different types of breast cancer and led to more effective, personalized 
        treatments; and
Whereas organizations such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure empower women with 
        knowledge and awareness, ensure access to quality care, and energize 
        science to discover and deliver cures for breast cancer: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) remains committed to ensuring access to life-saving 
        breast cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services, 
        particularly for medically underserved women;
            (2) supports increasing awareness and improving education 
        about breast cancer, the importance of early detection, and the 
        availability of screening services for women in need; and
            (3) remains committed to discovering and delivering cures 
        for breast cancer and encouraging the development of screening 
        tools that are more accurate and less costly.
                                 <all>