Senate Resolution No. 224

BY: Senator HANNON

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
January 2017, as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in
the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
illnesses that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 2017, as Cervical Cancer
Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month; and

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 estimates
that approximately 12,000 cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed,
and approximately 4,000 women will die from cervical cancer; and

WHEREAS, In New York State approximately 900 women are newly
diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer and nearly 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 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
eliminate 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 2017, as
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.