THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HARHART, REED, SWANGER, BEAR, BISHOP, BAKER, BOYD, BROOKS, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN, D. COSTA, DELOZIER, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FLECK, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HUTCHINSON, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MANN, MARSHALL, MILLARD, MILNE, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, STABACK, STEVENSON, TALLMAN, J. TAYLOR, WAGNER, WHEATLEY, WHITE, REICHLEY AND OBERLANDER, JANUARY 20, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JANUARY 20, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the month of January 2011 as "Cervical Cancer

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of

cancer deaths among women worldwide; and

WHEREAS, Human papillomavirus is a primary cause of cervical

cancer; and

WHEREAS, Each year, more than 5 million people acquire human

papillomavirus, which is linked to cervical cancer in high-risk

cases; and

WHEREAS, With regular and accurate screening, cervical cancer

is highly preventable; and

WHEREAS, Widespread screening has reduced death rates from

cervical cancer, but women are still dying despite advanced

medical techniques and evaluative procedures; and

WHEREAS, Cervical cancer rates in the United States are

affected by education, access to regular cervical cancer

screening and screening accuracy; and

WHEREAS, Experience shows that increasing cervical cancer

awareness among women, especially underserved women,

significantly reduces the probability of mortality; and

WHEREAS, Cervical cancer disproportionately affects minority

women and women with lower incomes who are less likely to have

access to routine screening; and

WHEREAS, Approximately half of all cervical cancer cases are

in women who have never been screened and 10% of cases are in

women who have not been screened within the last five years; and

WHEREAS, The median age of cervical cancer patients at

diagnosis is 47 years, the youngest median age for all female

reproductive cancers; and

WHEREAS, New screening technologies offer new opportunities

to finally eliminate cervical cancer through early

identification of women at increased risk; and

WHEREAS, These technologies include testing approved by the

Food and Drug Administration for human papillomavirus, the cause

of virtually all cervical cancers; and

WHEREAS, The United States Food and Drug Administration has

approved a vaccine for human papillomavirus, for females 9 to 26

years of age, which prevents infection by four major types of

human papillomavirus and prevents most cases of cervical cancer;

and

WHEREAS, The National Immunization Program of the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on

Immunization Practices have jointly recommended the use of the

human papillomavirus vaccine; and

WHEREAS, Women are entitled to appropriate information

relating to cervical cancer so they may make informed health

care decisions and may access accurate screening and

vaccination; and

WHEREAS, Women in Pennsylvania, between the ages of 40 and 64

who are uninsured may be eligible for free screening for

cervical cancer through the Department of Health's Healthy Woman

Program; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Health reports that in 2008-2009,

6,606 women were screened for cervical cancer through the

Healthy Woman Program and 207 women were found to have cervical

dysplasia or cervical cancer; and

WHEREAS, Women in Pennsylvania under the age of 64, who are

uninsured and in need of treatment for cervical cancer or a

precancerous condition of the cervix may be eligible for full

health care benefits through the Breast and Cervical Cancer

Prevention and Treatment (BCCPT) Program of the Department of

Public Welfare; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth recognizes that through education

and screening, women can decrease their likelihood of developing

cervical cancer, and that with early detection, cervical cancer

can be successfully treated; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

month of January 2011 as "Cervical Cancer Awareness Month" in

Pennsylvania to increase awareness, on the part of women,

families, health care providers and policymakers, of the risks,

prevalence and treatability of cervical cancer and the

importance of early access to accurate screening.