PRINTER'S NO. 3236
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
788
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY OBERLANDER, NEILSON, READSHAW, HENNESSEY, QUIGLEY,
FEE, BURNS, ROTHMAN, DAY, CAUSER, DUSH, SONNEY, MILLARD,
RYAN, DiGIROLAMO, COX, LONGIETTI, BIZZARRO, GODSHALL,
GREINER, YOUNGBLOOD, BERNSTINE, MURT, PICKETT, WARD,
DONATUCCI, TOOHIL, J. McNEILL, WATSON, EVERETT, MARSICO,
SCHWEYER, DeLUCA, CALTAGIRONE, BRADFORD, SCHLEGEL CULVER,
ROEBUCK, WHEELAND AND M. QUINN, APRIL 3, 2018
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 3, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of April 2018 as "Esophageal Cancer
Awareness and Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, According to the National Cancer Institute, more
than 17,000 individuals will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer
in the United States in 2018, and nearly 16,000 will die from
the disease; and
WHEREAS, Esophageal cancer is among the deadliest cancers and
fewer than one in five patients will survive five years; and
WHEREAS, Esophageal cancer is often not detected and
diagnosed until the disease has reached the later stages, when
treatment is often radical, likely to cause complications and
the outcomes are poor; and
WHEREAS, In the past, when esophageal cancer was detected
early, open esophagectomy was associated with a high mortality
rate and a prolonged length of stay and recovery in the
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hospital; and
WHEREAS, Recent advances in surgery and critical care have
allowed centers of excellence in selected academic hospitals to
perform minimally invasive esophagectomy with excellent
outcomes, lower risk of death and earlier return to activities
of daily living; and
WHEREAS, One of the most common causes of esophageal cancer
is heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is
viewed by many sufferers as an acceptable condition of life; and
WHEREAS, GERD can lead to Barrett's esophagus, which results
in as much as a 125% increase in an individual's chance of
developing esophageal cancer; and
WHEREAS, With monitoring and treatment of GERD, the potential
for long-term irreversible damage leading to esophageal cancer
can be avoided; and
WHEREAS, Esophageal cancer can occur without reflux symptoms
or history of smoking or excessive alcohol use; and
WHEREAS, Esophageal cancer is among the cancers that receive
the least amount of Federal medical research funding; and
WHEREAS, The health and well-being of all residents of this
Commonwealth is enhanced by improving esophageal cancer
awareness, prevention and increased research funding into early
detection and treatment strategies; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of April 2018 as "Esophageal Cancer Awareness and
Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania and encourage all residents of
this Commonwealth to take steps to prevent this disease through
treatment of gastroesophageal reflux.
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