[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 512 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 512

 Designating November 2023 as ``National Lung Cancer Awareness Month'' 
   and expressing support for early detection and treatment of lung 
                                cancer.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 18, 2023

   Ms. Smith (for herself, Mr. Rubio, Mrs. Capito, and Mr. Grassley) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating November 2023 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 
        individuals in the United States, accounting for more deaths than colon 
        cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer combined;
Whereas, in 2023, an estimated 238,340 individuals in the United States will be 
        diagnosed with lung cancer, and 127,070 individuals (approximately 350 
        individuals per day) will die from the disease;
Whereas 1 in 16 men and 1 in 17 women in the United States will develop lung 
        cancer during their lifetimes;
Whereas the rate of lung cancer death in women in the United States has 
        increased by 92 percent over the 50-year span from 1971 to 2021;
Whereas, each year, more women die from lung cancer than breast cancer and 
        ovarian cancer combined;
Whereas, in 2023, 20,500 people will die from lung cancer unrelated to smoking, 
        which would be the eighth leading cause of cancer death if classified as 
        a separate disease;
Whereas 18 percent of lung cancers are unrelated to smoking, and the proportion 
        of lung cancers diagnosed in individuals who have never smoked is 
        increasing in the United States;
Whereas, in 2023, approximately 103,000 of the 127,070 lung cancer deaths (81 
        percent) will be caused by cigarette smoking directly, with an 
        additional 3,560 lung cancer deaths caused by second-hand smoke;
Whereas the 5-year survival rate for localized lung cancer is 63 percent, yet a 
        majority of lung cancers are diagnosed at a distant stage, for which the 
        5-year survival rate is 8 percent;
Whereas screening with low-dose computed tomography can detect lung cancer in 
        its earliest stages and ultimately save lives, yet only 3 to 7 percent 
        of individuals in the United States at high risk for lung cancer undergo 
        lung cancer screening;
Whereas geographic availability of facilities and transportation barriers are 
        persistent challenges to lung cancer screening;
Whereas nearly 70 percent of adults are not familiar with lung cancer screening 
        and the low-dose computed tomography scan;
Whereas lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in veterans;
Whereas veterans are 25 percent more likely to develop lung cancer compared to 
        the general public, and, although approximately 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 
        veterans have an elevated risk of lung cancer and are eligible for 
        screening, less than 3 percent of veterans get screened;
Whereas Black men have the highest incidence of lung cancer and the highest 
        mortality rate from lung cancer in the United States, and non-White 
        individuals are 14 to 17 percent less likely to be diagnosed with lung 
        cancer early;
Whereas changes made to the United States Preventive Services Task Force lung 
        cancer screening guidelines in 2021 increased the number of individuals 
        in the United States who are recommended to receive screening from 
        8,000,000 to 14,500,000;
Whereas the stigma surrounding lung cancer--

    (1) creates barriers to early diagnosis, treatment, and research;

    (2) has a detrimental impact on the quality of life of lung cancer 
patients; and

    (3) hinders funding into lung cancer risk factors unrelated to smoking;

Whereas lung cancer research is leading to breakthroughs in biomarker 
        identification and the development of immunotherapies and targeted 
        therapies that are highly effective for some cancer subtypes, yet 
        accessing cutting edge testing as part of the lung cancer diagnostic 
        process can be difficult; 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 2023 as ``National Lung Cancer 
        Awareness Month'';
            (2) designates the first week of November 2023 as 
        ``National Women's Lung Cancer Awareness Week'';
            (3) designates the second Saturday of November 2023 as 
        ``National Lung Cancer Screening Day'';
            (4) supports the purposes and ideals of National Lung 
        Cancer Awareness Month;
            (5) promotes efforts to increase awareness of, education 
        about, and research on--
                    (A) mitigation of risk factors;
                    (B) lung cancer screening;
                    (C) treatment of lung cancer;
                    (D) lung cancer affecting minorities and 
                individuals who have never smoked; 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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