Senate Bill sb1174

    Florida Senate - 2001        (NP)                      SR 1174

    By Senator Horne





    6-920-01

  1                    Senate Resolution No. ____

  2         A resolution recognizing March 6 as "Lymphedema

  3         D-Day" in Florida and expressing support for

  4         those who have lymphedema.

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  6         WHEREAS, lymphedema is an accumulation of lymphatic

  7  fluid which causes swelling in the arms, legs, or other areas

  8  of the body and affects both men and women, and

  9         WHEREAS, the swelling caused by lymphedema can lead to

10  severe infection or loss of the use of limbs, and patients who

11  suffer from lymphedema must endure physical discomfort and

12  disfigurement and must cope with the distress caused by these

13  symptoms, and

14         WHEREAS, the single largest group of people who get

15  lymphedema are cancer patients, including those who have

16  breast, prostate, gynecological, head, neck, and lung cancer,

17  sarcoma, and melanoma, and

18         WHEREAS, recent studies have indicated that 20 percent

19  of breast cancer patients will get lymphedema after surgery

20  and radiation, and

21         WHEREAS, according to the National Cancer Institute,

22  there are a reported 8.5 million Americans living after a

23  diagnosis of cancer, of whom about 2 million are breast cancer

24  survivors, and

25         WHEREAS, no drug or effective surgical treatment for

26  lymphedema currently exists, and

27         WHEREAS, research in all areas of lymphedema has been

28  notably limited, and

29         WHEREAS, lymphedema, which has no cure and can occur

30  any time, has a severe financial, physical, and psychological

31  impact on patients, and

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    Florida Senate - 2001        (NP)                      SR 1174
    6-920-01




  1         WHEREAS, each year on March 6th, the National

  2  Lymphedema Network sponsors Lymphedema D-Day to honor patients

  3  and to raise awareness of the treatment and severity of this

  4  condition, NOW, THEREFORE,

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  6  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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  8         That the Florida Senate recognizes March 6th, in 2001,

  9  and in each succeeding year, as "Lymphedema D-Day" in Florida.

10         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate

11  encourages the residents of this state to honor and support

12  the courageous patients who are living with and coping with

13  this debilitating condition.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.