III 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 144 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

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.