House Engrossed

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature Second Regular Session 2014

HOUSE RESOLUTION 2008

 

A RESOLUTION

 

proclaiming the first Friday of September of each year as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day in the State of Arizona.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, Pound Out Cancer is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing cancer by empowering people through healthy living, educating women on recognizing ovarian cancer symptoms, supporting the opening of a community evaluation center in Arizona and funding research on better screening and cancer-eradicating drugs; and

Whereas, every 24 minutes, another woman is diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the United States; and

Whereas, mortality rates for ovarian cancer have not improved in the forty years since the "War on Cancer" was declared.  Other cancers have shown a marked reduction in mortality due to the availability of early detection tests and improved treatments.  This is not the case with ovarian cancer, which is still the most lethal malignancy of all gynecologic cancers; and

Whereas, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 22,240 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed each year and approximately 14,400 women will die of ovarian cancer in the United States each year; and

Whereas, 93% of women who are diagnosed in early stages survive 5 years, yet fewer than 15% of cases are diagnosed early; and

Whereas, 1 in 4 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will die in the first year after diagnosis; and

Whereas, three-quarters of ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed late when the disease is most aggressive (stages III and IV); and

Whereas, three-quarters of those women diagnosed with stage III or IV ovarian cancer will experience relapse after standard treatment, and more than two-thirds of these women will die in less than 5 years; and

Whereas, 1 out of every 8 women with ovarian cancer carries a hereditary mutation that can be identified through genetic testing, the most common being the BRCA 1 and 2 gene that is carried by both male and female descendants; and

Whereas, women who test positive for BRCA 1 and 2 have a 50% higher risk of developing ovarian cancer; and  

Whereas, no early detection tests are available for ovarian cancer and it is difficult and confusing for women to find the best treatment and care once diagnosed; and

Whereas, it is imperative that women look for symptoms, which include bloating, abdominal pain, urinary frequency and difficulty eating; and

Whereas, the standard of care for diagnosing ovarian cancer includes genetic testing, internal ultrasounds, CT scans, investigative surgery and the use of a gynecological oncologist; and

Whereas, today ovarian cancer treatment employs a "one size fits all" approach for treatment, clearly indicating that additional research directed at detecting, treating and curing ovarian cancer is needed; and 

Whereas, Arizona is uniquely situated to become the ovarian cancer research center of the nation, and the University of Arizona Cancer Center in Phoenix, in association with Dignity Health, is a leader in researching ovarian cancer and providing treatment for women with and at risk for this devastating disease; and

Whereas, some of the nation's and world's leaders in the fight to treat and cure ovarian cancer are right here in Arizona; and

Whereas, an ovarian cancer diagnostic and research center is needed in Arizona to meet the needs of symptomatic women, women at risk genetically and women with existing identified abnormalities; and

Whereas, it is imperative that there be greater public awareness, better education and a combined effort within the health community to dedicate the resources needed to bring a better outcome to this serious health issue.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona:

1.  That the Members of the House of Representatives proclaim the first Friday of September of each year as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day in the State of Arizona.

2.  That the Secretary of State transmit copies of this Resolution to the Governor of the State of Arizona, the Arizona Department of Health Services, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System administration, Dr. Bradley Monk at the University of Arizona Cancer Center in Phoenix in association with Dignity Health Gynecological Oncology Center, Dr. Jeffrey Trent at the T-Gen Institute and Tamera Call at Pound Out Cancer.