[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 29, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S5981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 727--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2020 AS ``NATIONAL OVARIAN 
                        CANCER AWARENESS MONTH''

  Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Brown, 
Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Peters, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mrs. 
Capito) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 727

       Whereas ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer 
     deaths in women in the United States and accounts for more 
     deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive 
     system;
       Whereas, in the United States, a woman's lifetime risk of 
     being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is about 1 in 78;
       Whereas the American Cancer Society estimates 21,750 new 
     cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in 2020 and 13,940 
     people will die from the disease nationwide;
       Whereas the 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 46.5 
     percent, and survival rates vary greatly depending on the 
     stage of diagnosis;
       Whereas the 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is over 
     90 percent for women diagnosed in early stages;
       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, in June 2007, the first national consensus 
     statement on ovarian cancer symptoms was developed to provide 
     consistency in describing symptoms and make it easier for 
     women to learn and remember those symptoms;
       Whereas too many people remain 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 vague symptoms that are often 
     easily confused with other diseases;
       Whereas improved awareness of the symptoms of ovarian 
     cancer by the public and health care providers can lead to a 
     quicker diagnosis;
       Whereas the lack of an early detection test for ovarian 
     cancer, combined with its vague symptoms, mean 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 a woman's risk 
     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 women who know that they are at high risk of 
     ovarian cancer may undertake prophylactic measures to help 
     reduce the risk of developing this disease;
       Whereas guidelines issued by the National Comprehensive 
     Cancer Network (NCCN) and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology 
     (SGO) recommend that all individuals diagnosed with ovarian 
     cancer receive genetic counseling and genetic testing 
     regardless of their family history;
       Whereas studies consistently show that compliance with such 
     guidelines is alarmingly low, with recently published 
     National Cancer Institute-funded research finding that in 
     2013 and 2014, only \1/3\ of ovarian cancer survivors had 
     undergone such testing;
       Whereas, according to a 2016 consensus report by the 
     National Academy of Medicine, ``there remain surprising gaps 
     in the fundamental knowledge about and understanding of 
     ovarian cancer'' across all aspects of the disease;
       Whereas ongoing investments in ovarian cancer research and 
     education and awareness efforts are critical to closing these 
     gaps and improving survivorship for women with ovarian 
     cancer;
       Whereas, each year during the month of September, the 
     Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) and its community 
     partners hold a number of events to increase public awareness 
     of ovarian cancer and its symptoms; and
       Whereas September 2020 should be designated as ``National 
     Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month'' to increase public awareness 
     of ovarian cancer: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 2020 as ``National Ovarian Cancer 
     Awareness Month''; and
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Ovarian 
     Cancer Awareness Month.

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