SJ358: Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; designating as March 2016, and each succeeding year thereafter.


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 358
Designating March, in 2016 and in each succeeding year, as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Virginia.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, February 25, 2015
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 27, 2015
 

WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States, affecting men and women equally; and

WHEREAS, every three minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and every 10 minutes someone in the United States dies from colorectal cancer in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the vast majority of colon cancer deaths can be prevented through proper screening and early detection; and

WHEREAS, only 39 percent of colorectal cancer patients have their cancers detected at an early stage; and

WHEREAS, the five-year survival rate of individuals diagnosed with early stage colorectal cancer is 90 percent but the five-year survival rate falls to 10 percent among individuals diagnosed after colorectal cancer has spread to other organs; and

WHEREAS, if the majority of people in the United States age 50 or older were screened regularly for colorectal cancer, the death rate from this disease could plummet by up to 70 percent; and

WHEREAS, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives are significantly less likely than Caucasians to be screened for colorectal cancer; and

WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable in most cases, and Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month provides a special opportunity to offer education on the importance of early detection and screening; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly designate March, in 2016 and in each succeeding year, as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the director of Fight Colorectal Cancer so that members of the organization may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the Senate post the designation of this month on the General Assembly’s website.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 358

Offered February 16, 2015
Designating March, in 2016 and in each succeeding year, as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Virginia.

Patrons-- McEachin, Deeds, Edwards, Favola, Howell, Puller and Saslaw; Delegates: Fowler, Landes, Morrissey and O'Bannon

Unanimous consent to introduce

Referred to Committee on Rules

WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States, affecting men and women equally; and

WHEREAS, every three minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and every 10 minutes someone in the United States dies from colorectal cancer in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the vast majority of colon cancer deaths can be prevented through proper screening and early detection; and

WHEREAS, only 39 percent of colorectal cancer patients have their cancers detected at an early stage; and

WHEREAS, the five-year survival rate of individuals diagnosed with early stage colorectal cancer is 90 percent but the five-year survival rate falls to 10 percent among individuals diagnosed after colorectal cancer has spread to other organs; and

WHEREAS, if the majority of people in the United States age 50 or older were screened regularly for colorectal cancer, the death rate from this disease could plummet by up to 70 percent; and

WHEREAS, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives are significantly less likely than Caucasians to be screened for colorectal cancer; and

WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable in most cases, and Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month provides a special opportunity to offer education on the importance of early detection and screening; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly designate March, in 2016 and in each succeeding year, as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the director of Fight Colorectal Cancer so that members of the organization may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the Senate post the designation of this month on the General Assembly’s website.