1Designating April 2014 as "Esophageal Cancer Awareness and
2Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, It is estimated that more than 17,000 people will be
4diagnosed with esophageal cancer in the United States in 2014,
5and more than 15,000 will die from the disease; and

6WHEREAS, Esophageal cancer is among the deadliest cancers and
7fewer than one in five patients will survive for five years; and

8WHEREAS, Esophageal cancer often is not detected and
9diagnosed until the disease has reached the later stages, and
10treatment is often radical, likely to cause complications and
11the outcomes are poor; and

12WHEREAS, One of the most common causes of esophageal cancer

1is heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is
2viewed by many sufferers as an acceptable condition of life, and
3GERD can lead to Barrett's Esophagus, which results in as much
4as a 125-fold increase in a person's chance to develop
5esophageal cancer; and

6WHEREAS, With monitoring and treatment of GERD, the potential
7for long-term irreversible damage leading to esophageal cancer
8can be avoided; and

9WHEREAS, Esophageal cancer can even occur without reflux
10symptoms, history of smoking or excessive alcohol use; and

11WHEREAS, Esophageal cancer is among the cancers that receive
12the least amount of Federal medical research funding; and

13WHEREAS, The health and well-being of all Pennsylvanians will
14be enhanced by improving esophageal cancer awareness, prevention
15and increased research funding into the early detection and
16treatment strategies; therefore be it

17RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate April
182014 as "Esophageal Cancer Awareness and Prevention Month" in
19Pennsylvania and encourage citizens to take steps to prevent
20this disease through treatment of gastroesophageal reflux.