1Recognizing the month of January 2014 as "Cervical Cancer
2Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, During the month of January there is a national
4focus on cervical cancer in order to increase public
5understanding of the disease, including its prevalence,
6approaches to screening and prevention, treatment options and
7resources that offer information about it; and

8WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that more than
912,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year
10and 4,000 or more will die from it; and

11WHEREAS, Cervical cancer affects the cervix, the part of the
12body that connects the uterus (or womb) to the vagina (or birth
13canal); and

14WHEREAS, Cervical cancer develops very slowly, with half of
15women diagnosed being between 35 and 55 years of age, and
16approximately one in five is diagnosed after the age of 65; and

1WHEREAS, The highest rates of occurrence are among Latina and
2women of African-American descent; and

3WHEREAS, It is estimated that 20 million Americans carry the
4Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted
5virus that leads to cervical cancer; and

6WHEREAS, Periodic Pap tests are recommended to detect
7precancerous and cancerous cervical cells for women 21 years of
8age and older; and

9WHEREAS, A series of three HPV vaccinations is recommended
10for all males and females beginning at nine years of age up to
1126 years of age to provide long-term protection against the most
12common strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer; and

13WHEREAS, Regular cervical cancer screening can usually be
14performed simply as part of a regular physical examination with
15a Pap test, one of the most reliable and effective cancer
16screening tests available; and

17WHEREAS, The majority of women diagnosed with cervical cancer
18have not had regular Pap tests or have not followed up on
19abnormal Pap test results; and

20WHEREAS, Other risk factors associated with cervical cancer
21are smoking, long-term use of birth control pills and having
22three or more children; and

23WHEREAS, Today, medical advances have made cervical cancer,
24once the second leading cause of death for women, a preventable
25disease with a very high rate of cure when detected early;
26therefore be it

27RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of January 2014
28as "Cervical Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.