PRINTER'S NO. 452

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

No. 26 Session of 2001

        INTRODUCED BY MOWERY, ARMSTRONG, BOSCOLA, BRIGHTBILL, O'PAKE,
           STOUT, WAGNER, SCHWARTZ, THOMPSON, TILGHMAN, TOMLINSON,
           LOGAN, MURPHY, MUSTO, GREENLEAF, EARLL, GERLACH AND KASUNIC,
           FEBRUARY 13, 2001

        INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, FEBRUARY 13, 2001

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Designating March 6, 2001, as "Lymphedema D-Day" in
     2     Pennsylvania.

     3     WHEREAS, Lymphedema is an accumulation of lymphatic fluid
     4  that causes swelling in the arms, legs or other areas of the
     5  body and affects both men and women; and
     6     WHEREAS, The swelling caused by lymphedema can lead to severe
     7  infection or loss of the use of limbs, and patients suffering
     8  from lymphedemas must endure physical discomfort and
     9  disfigurement and cope with the distress caused by these
    10  symptoms; and
    11     WHEREAS, The single largest group of people who get
    12  lymphedema are cancer patients, including breast, prostate,
    13  gynecological, head, neck, lung, sarcoma and melanoma patients;
    14  and
    15     WHEREAS, Recent studies have indicated that 20% of breast
    16  cancer patients will get lymphedema after surgery and radiation;
    17  and

     1     WHEREAS, According to the National Cancer Institute, there
     2  are a reported 8.5 million Americans living after a diagnosis of
     3  cancer, of which about 2 million are breast cancer survivors;
     4  and
     5     WHEREAS, No drug or effective surgical treatment for
     6  lymphedema currently exists; and
     7     WHEREAS, Research in all areas of lymphedema has been notably
     8  limited; and
     9     WHEREAS, Lymphedema, which has no cure and can occur anytime,
    10  has a severe financial, physical and psychological impact on
    11  patients; and
    12     WHEREAS, Each year on March 6, the National Lymphedema
    13  Network sponsors "Lymphedema D-Day" to honor patients and to
    14  raise awareness of the treatment and severity of this condition;
    15  therefore be it
    16     RESOLVED, That the Senate designate March 6, 2001, as
    17  "Lymphedema D-Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
    18     RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage the citizens of this
    19  Commonwealth to honor and support the courageous patients living
    20  and coping with this debilitating condition.







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