A resolution designating September 2019 as "National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month".

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 341 Designating September 2019 as ‘‘National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Mr. CARPER, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BROWN, and Mr. MENENDEZ) submitted the following resolution; which was re- ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating September 2019 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 2019 in the United States, approximately 22,530 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed and 13,980 women will die of ovarian cancer; Whereas more than 1⁄2 of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will die within 5 years of that diagnosis; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:20 Sep 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR341.IS SR341 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •SRES 341 IS Whereas, while the mammogram can detect breast cancer and the Pap smear can detect cervical cancer, there is no reli- able early detection test for ovarian cancer; Whereas the lack of an early detection test means that ap- proximately 80 percent of cases of ovarian cancer are de- tected at an advanced stage; Whereas all women are at risk for ovarian cancer, but ap- proximately 20 percent of women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer have a hereditary predisposition to ovar- ian 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 as much as 35 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 ex- perts believe that family history should be taken into con- sideration 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 dis- eases; Whereas clinical trials are fundamental to the discovery of new and better therapies in the fight against ovarian can- cer and can offer some patients their best hope for treat- ment; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:20 Sep 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR341.IS SR341 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •SRES 341 IS Whereas the Society of Gynecologic Oncology recommends that all women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer re- ceive counseling and genetic testing; Whereas testing somatic tumors can provide critical informa- tion to help effectively treat patients with ovarian cancer; 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; and Whereas, each year during the month of September, the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and community part- ners hold hundreds of events to increase public awareness of ovarian cancer: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates September 2019 as ‘‘National 2 Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month’’; and 3 (2) supports the goals and ideals of National 4 Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:20 Sep 26, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR341.IS SR341 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS