III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 462 

Designating November 2021 as ‘‘National Lung Cancer Awareness Month’’ 

and expressing support for early detection and treatment of lung cancer. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 30, 2021 

Ms. SMITH (for herself, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mrs. CAPITO, and Mr. 

SCOTT of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating November 2021 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 men and women in the United States, accounting for more deaths than colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer combined; 

Whereas 1 in 15 men and 1 in 17 women in the United 

States will develop lung cancer during their lifetime; 

Whereas it is estimated that, in 2021, 235,760 individuals in 

the United States will be diagnosed with lung cancer, and 

131,880 individuals will die from the disease; 

Whereas lung cancer incidence is decreasing twice as fast in 

men as in women, each year more women die from lung 


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cancer than breast cancer, and by 2035, it is estimated 

that more women will die from lung cancer than men; 

Whereas disparities in lung cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and mortality are well-documented, and Black men 

have the highest incidence of lung cancer and the highest 

mortality rate from lung cancer of any racial or ethnic 

group; 

Whereas, annually, lung cancer in individuals who have never 

smoked is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related 

death and accounts for between 17,000 and 26,000 

deaths in the United States; 

Whereas women who have never smoked are more likely to 

be diagnosed with lung cancer than men who have never 

smoked; 

Whereas, in the United States, the proportion of lung cancers 

diagnosed in individuals who have never smoked is increasing; 

Whereas the 5-year survival rate for localized lung cancer is 

60 percent, yet only about 18 percent of lung cancers are 

diagnosed at this stage; 

Whereas screening individuals at high risk of lung cancer 

using low-dose computed tomography can detect lung 

cancer earlier than other forms of screening and ultimately save lives; 

Whereas lung cancer screening can effectively reduce lung 

cancer mortality, but, annually, only between 2.8 and 7.2 

percent of individuals in the United States eligible for 

lung cancer screening undergo lung cancer screening with 

low-dose computed tomography; 

Whereas current lung cancer screening guidelines help catch 

cancer early for individuals at high risk of lung cancer, 


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leading to a higher likelihood of successful treatment, but 

can preclude screening for individuals who develop lung 

cancer, including individuals who have never smoked but 

have other risk factors, such as family history of lung 

cancer, exposure to secondhand smoke, or exposure to 

radon, which is the second leading cause of lung cancer; 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates November 2021 as ‘‘National 

3 Lung Cancer Awareness Month’’; 

4 (2) supports the purposes and ideals of Na5 tional Lung Cancer Awareness Month; 

6 (3) promotes efforts to increase awareness of, 

7 and education about, lung cancer among individuals 

8 in the United States; 

9 (4) champions efforts to increase lung cancer 

10 screening by raising awareness among, and improv11 ing access for, individuals who are eligible for lung 

12 cancer screening; 

13 (5) recognizes the need for research on the 

14 early screening, diagnosis, and treatment of lung 

15 cancer; and 


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1 (6) encourages the people of the United States 

2 to observe National Lung Cancer Awareness Month 

3 with appropriate awareness and educational activi4 ties. 

Æ 


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