IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1143 

Recognizing September 2020 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 

Ms. DELAURO (for herself, Ms. SLOTKIN, Mr. SAN NICOLAS, Mrs. HAYES, 

and Mr. RASKIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing September 2020 as National Ovarian Cancer 

Awareness Month. 

Whereas ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer 

deaths of 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 women’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 five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 46.5 

percent and survival rates vary greatly depending on the 

stage of diagnosis; 


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•HRES 1143 IH 

Whereas the five-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 to 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 pubic 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 their risk 


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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 and Society of Gynecologic Oncology 

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 these 

guidelines is alarmingly low, with recently published National Cancer Institute-funded research finding that in 

2013 and 2014, only one-third of ovarian cancer survivors have 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 and its community partners 

hold a number of events to increase public awareness of 

ovarian cancer and its symptoms; 

Whereas due to current unprecedented circumstances around 

the COVID–19 pandemic, the Ovarian Cancer Research 


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Alliance reformatted its annual National Conference, 

which draws hundreds of patients, caregivers, and researchers from around the world and typically occurs inperson each July and is occurring this year virtually from 

September 29 through October 2; and 

Whereas September 2020 should be designated as ‘‘National 

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month’’ to increase public 

awareness of ovarian cancer: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports 

2 the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Aware3 ness Month. 

Æ 


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