PRINTER'S NO. 1327
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
217
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY TARTAGLIONE, TEPLITZ, GREENLEAF, VOGEL,
McGARRIGLE, DINNIMAN, SABATINA, FONTANA, SCAVELLO, RAFFERTY,
BREWSTER, HAYWOOD, PILEGGI, MENSCH, BAKER, BARTOLOTTA, COSTA,
KITCHEN, VULAKOVICH, SCHWANK, VANCE, YUDICHAK AND FARNESE,
OCTOBER 19, 2015
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 19, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of October 2015 as "National Breast Cancer
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and October 16, 2015, as
"National Mammography Day" in Pennsylvania to promote
awareness of breast cancer issues and encourage women and men
to take action to protect themselves against breast cancer.
WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society helped found "National
Breast Cancer Awareness Month" in 1985; and
WHEREAS, "National Breast Cancer Awareness Month" has evolved
into a collaboration of national public service organizations,
professional medical associations and government agencies
working together to promote breast cancer awareness, share
information on the disease and provide greater access to
services; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception 30 years ago, the "National
Breast Cancer Awareness Month" effort has stood at the forefront
of promoting awareness of breast cancer issues, yet much remains
to be done to educate both women and men about breast health in
order for them to become empowered to take charge of their
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health through practicing regular breast self-exams to identify
changes, scheduling regular doctor visits and mammograms as
recommended, adhering to prescribed treatment and knowing the
facts about recurrence; and
WHEREAS, An important part of raising awareness involves
helping people understand the importance of screening and
detecting cancer in the early stages so that early treatment can
occur, which will increase survival rates and healing and
decrease suffering; and
WHEREAS, A mammogram serves as a screening test for breast
cancer that can detect such cancer early; and
WHEREAS, Screening for breast cancer for women 40 years of
age and older through mammograms helps ensure early detection of
breast cancer; and
WHEREAS, "National Mammography Day" has existed since 1993
when President Bill Clinton first proclaimed the third Friday of
October as "National Mammography Day" to encourage women,
particularly those in high risk groups, to make a mammography
appointment during the month of October during "National Breast
Cancer Awareness Month"; and
WHEREAS, Raising breast cancer awareness remains an important
issue because the American Cancer Society estimates that in the
United States during 2015 approximately 231,840 new cases of
invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women and about
40,290 women will die from breast cancer, while about 2,350 new
cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men, and
about 440 men will die from breast cancer; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of October 2015
as "National Breast Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and
be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize October 16, 2015, as
"National Mammography Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate urge all women and men in this
Commonwealth to have discussions with their doctors about breast
cancer, particularly about the value of getting screened for
breast cancer, especially if possible signs of breast cancer
through personal examination or otherwise are detected; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage women in this
Commonwealth 40 years of age and older to undergo annual
mammograms and urge women between 50 and 74 years of age to
recognize the benefit of undergoing mammograms every two years;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate urge residents to take action
during the month of October and at times throughout the year to
help people remain informed about the incidence of breast cancer
in this Commonwealth and elsewhere and how residents of this
Commonwealth can protect themselves from the disease and take
proper action if breast cancer develops.
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