LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim January 2016 as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, Cervical Cancer Awareness Month is an effort to encourage and
promote the efforts of people and health care practitioners in the State
of New York to increase awareness about cervical cancer, including the
early detection, prevention, risk factors, and early warning symptoms
and signs of the disease; and
WHEREAS, Cervical cancer is the second-leading cancer among women
worldwide, affecting an estimated 470,000 worldwide resulting in 253,000
deaths annually; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, the American Cancer Society (ACS) esti-
mates that approximately 11,150 cases of cervical cancer will be diag-
nosed, and approximately 3,670 women will die from cervical cancer; and
WHEREAS, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists esti-
mates that in New York State approximately 1,000 women are newly diag-
nosed with invasive cervical cancer and approximately 300 women die from
the disease each year; and
WHEREAS, Cervical cancer is almost 100% curable if diagnosed and
treated early; it is one of the most successfully treatable cancers with
a five-year survival rate of 95%; and
WHEREAS, Invasive cervical cancer is almost totally preventable by
routine screening; the high incidence of death from cervical cancer is
due mainly to a lack of access leading to the early detection procedures
available to women; and
WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society recommends that all women who
have reached 21 years of age, and those who are or have been sexually
active regardless of age, should be screened regularly for cervical
cancer; and
WHEREAS, Spreading the awareness about cervical cancer would increase
the chances of survival; and
WHEREAS, In August of 2005, New York became the 33rd State, as part of
the Women In Government's Challenge to Eliminate Cervical Cancer
Campaign, to enact legislation that aims to prevent and ultimately elim-
inate cervical cancer; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and national levels to support the patients as well as
their families; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 2016 as Cervi-
cal Cancer Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.