IN SUPPORT OF ‘ENDING CERVICAL CANCER IN OUR LIFETIME’

 

WHEREAS, cervical cancer is a nearly preventable disease, yet 9,710 American women are expected to develop cervical cancer in 2006 and about 3,700 will die from it, according to the National Women’s Health Resource Center, and 

 

WHEREAS, cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer found in women which also may be curable if found at an early stage, and   

 

WHEREAS, a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV) causes 99.7% of all cervical cancer cases and whereas nearly all sexually active adults will be infected with HPV at some point in their life since HPV is spread by skin to skin contact in the genital area, according to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, and 

 

WHEREAS, HPV causes no symptoms and usually goes away on its own, however, high-risk HPV which stays in the body a period of years can cause cervical cancer, and

 

WHEREAS, a Pap test, a simple, painless test done in minutes in a doctor’s office or clinic, may detect abnormal cells in the cervix caused by HPV which precede cervical cancer, and

 

WHEREAS, cervical cancer can be prevented or cured by removing the abnormal cells before they become cancerous and whereas, often, there are no early symptoms so women should have Pap tests done regularly, and

 

WHEREAS, in recent years, the U.S. death rate from cervical cancer decreased but the rate of invasive cervical cancer is up, and

 

WHEREAS, according to the American Cancer Society, cervical cancer affects women in every demographic, with the incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer highest among African American and Hispanic women, and with more than half the women who now develop cervical cancer having either rarely or never had a Pap test, and

 

WHEREAS, if a woman thinks she cannot afford a Pap test, she should call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at 800-CDC-INFO (232-4636) where she will be connected with a program in her state providing free or low-cost Pap testing to low-income, uninsured, and underserved women,

 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the members of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) are spreading the word about HPV and cervical cancer to help people make the connection between the virus and the cancer, and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, NLGA will make the “Ending Cervical Cancer in Our Lifetime” campaign which includes educational brochures and beading kits available to as many states and territories as possible, and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, NLGA will maintain an educational web site on the topic for at least one year and established no later than August 1, 2006, and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, we can end cervical cancer in our lifetime.  Pass the information on to someone you know and help save a life.    

 

Passed by the Executive Committee & General Business meeting this 19th day of July, 2006:

Sponsor:  Lt. Governor Jane Norton, Colorado 

Co-Sponsor Lt. Governor John Cherry, Vice-Chairman

 

Additional Co-Sponsors: 

Lt. Governor Diane Denish, New Mexico

Lt. Governor Charles J. Fogarty, Rhode Island

Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll, Pennsylvania

Lt. Governor Patrick Quinn, Illinois 

Lt. Governor Aito Sunia, American Samoa

Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, Missouri

Lt. Governor John Carney, Delaware

Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, Wisconsin

Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, Virginia

Lt. Governor John Bohlinger, Montana

Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll, Pennsylvania