THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY FREEMAN, HENNESSEY, ADOLPH, BAKER, BEYER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BROOKS, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CUTLER, DALEY, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GRUCELA, HARHART, HELM, HESS, HICKERNELL, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAHER, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARSICO, McGEEHAN, McILVAINE SMITH, MILLARD, MURPHY, MUSTIO, MYERS, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PASHINSKI, PAYTON, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SAMUELSON, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, TALLMAN, TRUE, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, HAHN, SWANGER AND PAYNE, SEPTEMBER 7, 2010

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, SEPTEMBER 7, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of September 2010 as "Colorectal Cancer

Examination Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. 

WHEREAS, Colorectal cancer is both the third most common

cancer diagnosis and the second leading cause of cancer death in

the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, A family history of colorectal cancer or a personal

history of an inflammatory bowel disease is considered to be

among the biggest risk factors for the disease, with other risk

factors including obesity, alcohol consumption, red and

processed meat consumption and diabetes; and

WHEREAS, Men are 35% more likely to get colorectal cancer

than women and African Americans are 20% more likely to get this

cancer than other races or ethnicities; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that as many as 60% of colorectal

cancer deaths could be prevented if all men and women 50 years

of age or older were screened routinely, for colorectal

examinations save lives; this is because colorectal cancer

develops from precancerous polyps in the colon and rectum which

can be seen in examinations and removed before they turn into

cancer; and

WHEREAS, Screening tests also can find colorectal cancer

early, when treatment works best; and

WHEREAS, Since the 1990s, colorectal cancer incidence and

mortality rates have been declining and the five-year survival

rate has been increasing; and

WHEREAS, Early colon cancer detection through sigmoidoscopies

and, where indicated, colonoscopies has contributed to the

decline in the death rate; and

WHEREAS, Use of these examinations and good dietary habits

should be encouraged through awareness programs; therefore be it 

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of September 2010 as "Colorectal Cancer Examination

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.