IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1522 

Expressing support for designation of the last week of September as National 

Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and the last Wednesday 

of September as National Previvor Day. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 15, 2010 

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designation of the last week of September as National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week and the last Wednesday of September as National Previvor Day. 

Whereas it is estimated that 750,000 people in the United 

States carry a gene mutation that causes a predisposition 

to breast and ovarian cancer; 

Whereas approximately 5 to 7 percent of breast cancer and 

10 to 14 percent of ovarian cancers are hereditary; 

Whereas women with these mutations have up to an 84 percent chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime; 

Whereas women with a BRCA genetic mutation have up to 

a 50 percent lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer; 


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•HRES 1522 IH 

Whereas the single greatest ovarian cancer risk factor is a 

family history of the disease; 

Whereas hereditary cancers are often more aggressive than 

other cancers and occur at a younger age, when people 

are less likely to undergo cancer screening; 

Whereas breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death 

in women under the age of 54; 

Whereas ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecologic 

cancer death; 

Whereas individuals with a hereditary risk for cancer require 

different cancer screening and risk management recommendations than the general population; 

Whereas inherited BRCA genetic mutations are found in approximately 1 in 40 Ashkenazi Jews and mutations have 

been found in people of every ethnic group; 

Whereas more than one-third of Jewish women diagnosed 

with ovarian cancer or primary peritoneal cancer at any 

age, or breast cancer before age 40, carry an inherited 

BRCA mutation; 

Whereas African-Americans and Hispanic Americans are less 

likely to have access to hereditary cancer information and 

appropriate health care; 

Whereas children of parents with an inherited predisposition 

to breast and ovarian cancer have a 50 percent chance 

of inheriting the predisposition; 

Whereas among many in the cancer community, a ‘‘previvor’’ 

is a survivor of a predisposition (or increased risk) to 

cancer; 


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•HRES 1522 IH 

Whereas genetic counseling and genetic testing can determine 

if an individual is at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer; 

Whereas raising awareness of hereditary cancer and knowledge of a genetic predisposition can directly lead to preventive strategies that can reduce the chance of dying 

from cancer; 

Whereas the last week of September would be an appropriate 

week to designate as National Hereditary Breast and 

Ovarian Cancer Week; and 

Whereas the last Wednesday in September would be an appropriate date to designate as National Previvor Day: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of National Hered3 itary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week; and 

4 (2) supports the designation of National 

5 Previvor Day. 

Æ 


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