Title: A resolution designating September 2020 as "National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month".
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution designates September 2020 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and expresses support for its goals and ideals.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 727 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 727

   Designating September 2020 as ``National Ovarian Cancer Awareness 
                                Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 30 (legislative day, September 29), 2020

 Ms. Stabenow (for herself, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Brown, 
  Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Peters, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mrs. 
 Capito) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Designating September 2020 as ``National Ovarian Cancer Awareness 
                                Month''.

Whereas ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in 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 woman'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 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 46.5 percent, and 
        survival rates vary greatly depending on the stage of diagnosis;
Whereas the 5-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 and 
        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 public 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 a woman's risk 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 (NCCN) 
        and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 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 such guidelines is 
        alarmingly low, with recently published National Cancer Institute-funded 
        research finding that in 2013 and 2014, only \1/3\ of ovarian cancer 
        survivors had 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 (OCRA) and its community partners hold a number of events to 
        increase public awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms; and
Whereas September 2020 should be designated as ``National Ovarian Cancer 
        Awareness Month'' to increase public awareness of ovarian cancer: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates September 2020 as ``National Ovarian Cancer 
        Awareness Month''; and
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Ovarian 
        Cancer Awareness Month.
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