PRINTER'S NO. 2755
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
656
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY HARHART, BAKER, BIZZARRO, BOBACK, V. BROWN,
BULLOCK, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI,
DUSH, EVERETT, FARINA, FREEMAN, GROVE, HEFFLEY, HENNESSEY,
PHILLIPS-HILL, KAUFFMAN, KILLION, KIM, KINSEY, KNOWLES,
LONGIETTI, MACKENZIE, MARSICO, McNEILL, MILLARD, MURT,
MUSTIO, O'BRIEN, OBERLANDER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PICKETT,
READSHAW, ROSS, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHREIBER, SONNEY, THOMAS,
TOOHIL, VEREB, WARD, WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD, JANUARY 25, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JANUARY 25, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of January 2016 as "Cervical Cancer
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of
cancer deaths among women worldwide; and
WHEREAS, Human papillomavirus is a primary cause of cervical
cancer; and
WHEREAS, Each year, more than 5 million people acquire human
papillomavirus, which is linked to cervical cancer in high-risk
cases; and
WHEREAS, With regular and accurate screening, cervical cancer
is highly preventable; and
WHEREAS, Widespread screening has reduced death rates from
cervical cancer, but women are still dying despite advanced
medical techniques and evaluative procedures; and
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WHEREAS, Cervical cancer rates in the United States are
affected by education, access to regular cervical cancer
screening and screening accuracy; and
WHEREAS, Experience shows that increasing cervical cancer
awareness among women, especially underserved women,
significantly reduces the probability of mortality; and
WHEREAS, Cervical cancer disproportionately affects minority
women and women with lower incomes who are less likely to have
access to routine screening; and
WHEREAS, Approximately half of all cervical cancer cases are
in women who have never been screened and 10% of cases are in
women who have not been screened within the last five years; and
WHEREAS, The median age of cervical cancer patients at
diagnosis is 47 years of age which is the youngest median age
for all female reproductive cancers; and
WHEREAS, New screening technologies offer new opportunities
to finally eliminate cervical cancer through early
identification of women at increased risk; and
WHEREAS, These technologies include testing approved by the
Food and Drug Administration for human papillomavirus, the cause
of virtually all cervical cancers; and
WHEREAS, The United States Food and Drug Administration has
approved a vaccine for human papillomavirus, for both females
and males, with recommended inoculation beginning at 9 years of
age to 26 years of age, which prevents infection by four strains
of human papillomavirus to prevent most cases of cervical
cancer; and
WHEREAS, The National Immunization Program of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices have jointly recommended the use of the
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human papillomavirus vaccine for adolescents and young adults,
both female and male, between 11 and 26 years of age; and
WHEREAS, Women are entitled to appropriate information
relating to cervical cancer so they may make informed health
care decisions and may access accurate screening and
vaccination; and
WHEREAS, Women in Pennsylvania between 40 and 64 years of age
who are uninsured may be eligible for free screening for
cervical cancer through the Department of Health's Healthy Woman
Program; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Health reports that in 2008-2009,
6,606 women were screened for cervical cancer through the
Healthy Woman Program and 207 women were found to have cervical
dysplasia or cervical cancer; and
WHEREAS, Women in Pennsylvania under 65 years of age who are
uninsured and in need of treatment for cervical cancer or a
precancerous condition of the cervix may be eligible for full
health care benefits through the Breast and Cervical Cancer
Prevention and Treatment Program of the Department of Human
Services; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth recognizes that through education
and screening, women can decrease their likelihood of developing
cervical cancer, and that with early detection, cervical cancer
can be successfully treated; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of January 2016 as "Cervical Cancer Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania to increase awareness, on the part of women,
families, health care providers and policymakers, of the risks,
prevalence and treatability of cervical cancer and the
importance of early access to accurate screening.
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