[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 270 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 270

   Designating September 2017 as ``National Ovarian Cancer Awareness 
                                Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 28, 2017

  Ms. Stabenow (for herself, Mr. Brown, Mr. King, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
   Blumenthal, Mr. Menendez, and Ms. Hirono) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Designating September 2017 as ``National Ovarian Cancer Awareness 
                                Month''.

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 2017 in the United States, approximately 22,440 new cases of ovarian 
        cancer will be diagnosed and 14,080 women will die of ovarian cancer;
Whereas the mortality rate for ovarian cancer has not significantly decreased 
        since the ``War on Cancer'' was declared more than 40 years ago;
Whereas \1/4\ of women will die within 1 year of being diagnosed with ovarian 
        cancer and more than \1/2\ will die within 5 years of that diagnosis;
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 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, 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 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 that they are at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer 
        may undertake prophylactic measures to help reduce the risk of 
        developing those diseases;
Whereas, as of 2017, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology recommends that all 
        women who are 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 those symptoms; and
Whereas, each year during the month of September, the Ovarian Cancer Research 
        Fund Alliance and community partners hold a number of events to increase 
        public awareness of ovarian cancer: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates September 2017 as ``National Ovarian Cancer 
        Awareness Month''; and
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Ovarian 
        Cancer Awareness Month.
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