PRINTER'S NO. 714
No. 51 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY LEH, GEIST, DeWEESE, ARMSTRONG, M. BAKER, BARD,
BASTIAN, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, CALTAGIRONE, CIVERA,
CLARK, L. I. COHEN, CORRIGAN, COSTA, COY, CRUZ, CURRY,
DeLUCA, DONATUCCI, FAIRCHILD, FICHTER, FLEAGLE, FORCIER,
FREEMAN, GEORGE, GORDNER, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HERMAN,
HERSHEY, HESS, HORSEY, HUTCHINSON, JOSEPHS, LaGROTTA,
LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, LESCOVITZ, MAJOR, MARSICO, McNAUGHTON,
MELIO, MICOZZIE, R. MILLER, MUNDY, PIPPY, PRESTON, READSHAW,
ROBERTS, ROSS, RUBLEY, SANTONI, SATHER, SAYLOR, SCHRODER,
SCHULER, SCRIMENTI, SHANER, B. SMITH, SOLOBAY, STABACK,
E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE, VANCE, WALKO, C. WILLIAMS, WILT,
WOGAN, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD, ZUG AND LUCYK,
FEBRUARY 13, 2001
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
FEBRUARY 13, 2001
A RESOLUTION
1 Proclaiming March 6, 2001, as "Lymphedema Awareness Day" in
2 Pennsylvania; and urging all citizens of this Commonwealth to
3 join in observance.
4 WHEREAS, March 6, 2001, has been designated as "Lymphedema
5 Awareness Day"; and
6 WHEREAS, Lymphedema is an accumulation of lymphatic fluid
7 which causes swelling in the arms, legs or other areas of the
8 body and affects both men and women; and
9 WHEREAS, The swelling caused by lymphedema can lead to severe
10 infection or loss of the use of limbs, and patients suffering
11 from lymphedema must endure physical discomfort and
12 disfigurement and cope with the distress caused by these
1 symptoms; and
2 WHEREAS, The single largest group of people who get
3 lymphedema are cancer patients, including those with cancer of
4 the breast, prostate, head, neck, lung, gynecological cancer,
5 sarcoma and melanoma; and
6 WHEREAS, Recent studies have indicated that 20% of breast
7 cancer patients will get lymphedema after surgery and radiation;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, According to the National Cancer Institute, there
10 are a reported 8.5 million Americans living after a diagnosis of
11 cancer, of which about 2 million are breast cancer survivors;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, No drug or effective surgical treatment for
14 lymphedema currently exists; and
15 WHEREAS, Research in all areas of lymphedema has been notably
16 limited; and
17 WHEREAS, Lymphedema, which has no cure and can occur anytime,
18 has a severe financial, physical and psychological impact on
19 patients; and
20 WHEREAS, Each year on March 6, the National Lymphedema
21 Network sponsors "Lymphedema D-Day" to honor patients and to
22 raise awareness of the treatment and severity of this condition;
23 therefore be it
24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives proclaim March 6,
25 2001, as "Lymphedema Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it
26 further
27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage the
28 citizens of this Commonwealth to honor and support the
29 courageous patients living and coping with this debilitating
30 disease.
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