Florida Senate - 2009 (NP) SR 2774 By Senator Joyner 18-04092B-09 20092774__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing October 2009 as “Breast 3 Cancer Awareness Month” in Florida. 4 5 WHEREAS, breast cancer is second only to skin cancer as the 6 most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, and 7 WHEREAS, Florida ranks second in the nation in the number 8 of deaths related to breast cancer and fourth in the nation in 9 the number of new breast cancer cases diagnosed each year, and 10 WHEREAS, breast cancer is the most common cancer among 11 Hispanic woman and the second most common cause of cancer death 12 in Caucasian, African American, Asian American, and Native 13 American women living in the United States, and 14 WHEREAS, while all women are at risk for developing breast 15 cancer, age is the most significant risk factor, with the 16 majority of breast cancers occurring in women age 50 and older 17 with that risk increasing until age 80, and 18 WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society estimates more than 19 11,850 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in 20 Florida in 2008, with more than 2,750 women dying as the result 21 of the disease, and 22 WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society recommended guidelines 23 of routine clinical exams and mammography screening beginning at 24 40 years of age are key to early detection of breast cancer, and 25 WHEREAS, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is 98 26 percent when diagnosed in its earliest stages as compared to a 27 survival rate of 26.7 percent when detected in a later stage of 28 metastases, and 29 WHEREAS, breast cancer awareness programs during Breast 30 Cancer Awareness Month promote early breast cancer detection 31 through public education and the promotion of regular 32 screenings, NOW, THEREFORE, 33 34 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 35 36 That the Florida Senate recognizes October 2009 as “Breast 37 Cancer Awareness Month” in Florida and urges all women to 38 educate themselves on the risks associated with breast cancer, 39 take preventive steps to minimize those risks, and undergo early 40 detection screening procedures recommended by the American 41 Cancer Society.