TITLE: Recognizing October of 2011 as Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

SUMMARY: Recognizing October of 2011 as Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to join Texans across the state in observing October of 2011 as Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, Inflammatory breast cancer is a type of breast cancer in which cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast; symptoms, which may appear overnight, are similar to those of mastitis, a benign infection; this similarity sometimes results in misdiagnoses and delays in treatment, and such postponements in care often result in an eventual Stage IV diagnosis; and WHEREAS, Accounting for less than five percent of breast cancer cases, inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive form of the disease, due to its faster doubling time; its five-year survival rate is approximately 40 percent, mainly because of delays in diagnosis, the disease's resistance to treatment with standard chemotherapy, and a lack of expertise in treating this rare form of cancer; and WHEREAS, Because it does not form the characteristic lump that can alert women to the presence of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer can quickly spread undetected throughout the breast and is also rarely detected by mammograms or ultrasounds; and WHEREAS, The treatment of inflammatory breast cancer differs from other breast cancer treatments, and early diagnosis by a physician with experience in caring for inflammatory breast cancer is essential; it is truly fitting that a month be set aside to raise awareness about this devastating disease through education of the general public and the medical community; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd Legislature, hereby commend those who are working to fight inflammatory breast cancer and call on Texans to observe October of 2011 as Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Month; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor of Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Huffman President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 4, 2011.