PRINTER'S NO. 186
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
9
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, HAYWOOD, TEPLITZ, GREENLEAF, BREWSTER,
KITCHEN, BAKER, DINNIMAN, BOSCOLA, SCAVELLO, VULAKOVICH,
TARTAGLIONE, FONTANA, ALLOWAY AND WHITE, JANUARY 21, 2015
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JANUARY 21, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of January 2015 as "Cervical Cancer
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, There is a nationwide effort to raise public
awareness of cervical cancer during the month of January; and
WHEREAS, More than 4,000 women die each year from cervical
cancer and more than 12,000 women are diagnosed with the
disease; and
WHEREAS, Cervical cancer develops very slowly, with half of
patients diagnosed between 35 and 55 years of age and one in
five diagnosed after 65 years of age; and
WHEREAS, Screening tests and vaccines can essentially
eliminate the disease; and
WHEREAS, Periodic Pap tests are recommended to detect
precancerous and cancerous cervical cells for women 21 years of
age and older; and
WHEREAS, Regular cervical cancer screening can usually be
performed simply during a regular physical examination with a
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Pap test, one of the most reliable and effective cancer
screening tests available; and
WHEREAS, The majority of women diagnosed with cervical cancer
have not had regular Pap tests or have not followed up on
abnormal Pap test results; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 20 million American men and women carry
Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted
virus that leads to cervical cancer; and
WHEREAS, A series of three HPV vaccinations is recommended
for all males and females between 9 and 26 years of age, to
provide long-term protection against the most common strains of
HPV that cause cervical cancer; and
WHEREAS, Cervical cancer is strongly associated with poverty
and lack of access to medical care; and
WHEREAS, Other risk factors associated with cervical cancer
are smoking, long-term use of birth control pills and having
three or more children; and
WHEREAS, Medical advances have made cervical cancer, once the
second leading cause of death for women, a preventable disease
today with a very high rate of cure when detected early;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of January 2015
as "Cervical Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
20150SR0009PN0186 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23