HR0153 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0153 LRB094 08374 CSA 38570 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer among women and the fifth leading cause of cancer death after lung and bronchus, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers; ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system; and

WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 22,220 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2005 and an estimated 16,000 women died from ovarian cancer in the United States during 2004; and

WHEREAS, Ovarian cancer is the deadliest malignancy of the female reproductive system, in part because only about 24 percent of the cases are detected during the early stages of the disease; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 1,000 Illinois women die from ovarian cancer annually; and

WHEREAS, The Pap test, which is an effective detector of early cervical cancer, detects ovarian cancer only in the later stages; and

WHEREAS, Screening with sonograms and blood tests of women who are high risks for developing ovarian cancer, such as women with family histories of ovarian cancer or breast cancer, would help to save lives by early diagnosis and effective treatment; and

WHEREAS, Other life-saving programs include public education campaigns, programs to alert doctors regarding early symptoms, insurance coverage for screening high risk populations, and increased research; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that there is created a House Ovarian Cancer Study Committee to be composed of six members of the House of Representatives, three members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and three members to be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; the Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee; the chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems related to ovarian cancer and recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate; the committee shall conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution; the committee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, on or before December 31, 2007.