[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 462 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 462

 Designating November 2021 as ``National Lung Cancer Awareness Month'' 
   and expressing support for early detection and treatment of lung 
                                cancer.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 30, 2021

Ms. Smith (for herself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Capito, and Mr. 
Scott of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating November 2021 as ``National Lung Cancer Awareness Month'' 
   and expressing support for early detection and treatment of lung 
                                cancer.

Whereas lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and 
        women in the United States, accounting for more deaths than colon 
        cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer combined;
Whereas 1 in 15 men and 1 in 17 women in the United States will develop lung 
        cancer during their lifetime;
Whereas it is estimated that, in 2021, 235,760 individuals in the United States 
        will be diagnosed with lung cancer, and 131,880 individuals will die 
        from the disease;
Whereas lung cancer incidence is decreasing twice as fast in men as in women, 
        each year more women die from lung cancer than breast cancer, and by 
        2035, it is estimated that more women will die from lung cancer than 
        men;
Whereas disparities in lung cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and 
        mortality are well-documented, and Black men have the highest incidence 
        of lung cancer and the highest mortality rate from lung cancer of any 
        racial or ethnic group;
Whereas, annually, lung cancer in individuals who have never smoked is the 
        seventh leading cause of cancer-related death and accounts for between 
        17,000 and 26,000 deaths in the United States;
Whereas women who have never smoked are more likely to be diagnosed with lung 
        cancer than men who have never smoked;
Whereas, in the United States, the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed in 
        individuals who have never smoked is increasing;
Whereas the 5-year survival rate for localized lung cancer is 60 percent, yet 
        only about 18 percent of lung cancers are diagnosed at this stage;
Whereas screening individuals at high risk of lung cancer using low-dose 
        computed tomography can detect lung cancer earlier than other forms of 
        screening and ultimately save lives;
Whereas lung cancer screening can effectively reduce lung cancer mortality, but, 
        annually, only between 2.8 and 7.2 percent of individuals in the United 
        States eligible for lung cancer screening undergo lung cancer screening 
        with low-dose computed tomography;
Whereas current lung cancer screening guidelines help catch cancer early for 
        individuals at high risk of lung cancer, leading to a higher likelihood 
        of successful treatment, but can preclude screening for individuals who 
        develop lung cancer, including individuals who have never smoked but 
        have other risk factors, such as family history of lung cancer, exposure 
        to secondhand smoke, or exposure to radon, which is the second leading 
        cause of lung cancer; and
Whereas educational efforts can increase awareness of lung cancer and lung 
        cancer screening among the general public, patients and their families, 
        and health care workers, thereby increasing the early detection of lung 
        cancer: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates November 2021 as ``National Lung Cancer 
        Awareness Month'';
            (2) supports the purposes and ideals of National Lung 
        Cancer Awareness Month;
            (3) promotes efforts to increase awareness of, and 
        education about, lung cancer among individuals in the United 
        States;
            (4) champions efforts to increase lung cancer screening by 
        raising awareness among, and improving access for, individuals 
        who are eligible for lung cancer screening;
            (5) recognizes the need for research on the early 
        screening, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer; and
            (6) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        National Lung Cancer Awareness Month with appropriate awareness 
        and educational activities.
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