California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

House ResolutionNo. 29


Introduced by Assembly Member Campos

August 19, 2015


House Resolution No. 29—Relative to Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

P1    1WHEREAS, Each year in the United States, over 20,000 women
2are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and about 14,500 women die
3of this disease; and

4WHEREAS, If diagnosed and treated at an early stage before
5the cancer spreads outside of the ovary, the treatment is potentially
6less costly, and the five-year survival rate is higher, at
7approximately 70 percent. However, fewer than 20 percent of
8ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed early. An overwhelming 80
9percent of all ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced
10stages; and

11WHEREAS, Although mortality rates for other cancers have
12been reduced due to the capabilities of early detection and enhanced
13treatments, ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other
14cancer of the female reproductive system. Unfortunately, women
15with ovarian cancer do not share the luxury of early detection. This
16cancer is among the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers; and

17WHEREAS, Ovarian cancer has been predicted to reach
18epidemic proportions as the population ages because advancing
19age is one of the known risk factors for the development of ovarian
20cancer. About 90 percent of women who get ovarian cancer are
21older than 40 years of age, with the greatest number of cases
22occurring in women 60 years of age or older; and

P2    1WHEREAS, The symptoms of ovarian cancer are vague and
2not well known by the public. While ovarian cancer is the ninth
3most common cancer among the female population, it is the fifth
4leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women; and

5WHEREAS, When ovarian cancer is found in its early stages,
6treatment works best. Ovarian cancer often causes signs and
7symptoms, so it is important for women to pay attention to their
8bodies and know what is normal for them. Symptoms may be
9caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know
10is for women to see their doctor, nurse, or other health care
11professional; and

12WHEREAS, It is critical for women, physicians, and all health
13care providers to recognize the risk factors and symptoms of
14gynecologic cancers and to remember the importance of early
15detection in preventing and treating this disease; and

16WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the citizens of the State of
17California to work together as concerned people to increase
18research in understanding the causes, finding effective screening
19and prevention strategies, and developing improved therapies for
20ovarian cancers; now, therefore, be it

21Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
22Assembly hereby recognizes the month of September 2015, and
23every September thereafter, as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
24throughout the State of California, and encourages and promotes
25the efforts of the people and the health care practitioners of the
26state to increase their awareness of this disease and to educate
27themselves about its early detection and prevention, the risk factors
28involved in its development, and the early warning symptoms and
29signs; and be it further

30Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
31of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.



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