In September, the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance worked with Congress to introduce the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Resolution, H.Res. 727, into the House of Representatives. Thanks to your calls, emails and faxes, 78 Representatives co-sponsored the Resolution.

Because of this outpouring of Congressional support, the Resolution was recently passed in the House on Tuesday, December 1^st, which means that all Representatives present voted in favor of the Resolution.

Please take a moment to thank your Representative for his/her support. Click here to view our Action Alert.

Watch the results of your advocacy work on the web:

- Rep. Israel’s remarks on the Awareness Resolution:

- C-SPAN video of House voting on the Awareness Resolution:  http://tinyurl.com/y926woz

- Additional remarks on the Resolution by sponsor Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Rep. Jason Chaffetz and Rep. Stephen Lynch: http://tinyurl.com/y9h93e7

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Remarks of Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana, Co-Lead of H.Res. 727:

Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 727, which expresses the House of Representatives’ support for the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. As many of my colleagues hopefully know, on August 31, 2009, President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation officially declaring September National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and calling on every American to do their part to increase awareness of what Americans can do to prevent and control ovarian cancer. Rising to the challenge, throughout September, all across the Nation, men and women came together for events to both raise awareness of this terrible scourge and to show their support for the women and families struggling with this horrible disease–the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers.

While National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month may be over for 2009, the fight against ovarian cancer goes on. When it is detected early, ovarian cancer is very treatable; unfortunately, ovarian cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose because symptoms are sometimes subtle and may be easily confused with those of other diseases. As a result, only 29 percent of ovarian cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed in the early stages. When the disease is detected before it has spread beyond the ovaries, more than 95 percent of women will survive longer than five years. But, in cases where the disease is not detected until it reaches the advanced stage, the five-year survival rate plummets to a devastating 25 percent.

As there is still no reliable and easy-to-administer screening test for ovarian cancer, like the Pap smear for cervical cancer or the mammogram for breast cancer; early recognition of symptoms is clearly the best way to save a woman’s life. Increased education and awareness about ovarian cancer, along with recognition of women who are at higher risk for developing ovarian cancer, is the only way that women and their doctors will be able to stop ignoring or misinterpreting the subtle symptoms of the disease.

In 2007, the American Cancer Society and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance came to a consensus on the identifiable symptoms of ovarian cancer. If a woman experiences any of the following symptoms for at least three weeks–bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, frequent or urgent need to urinate–she should immediately see her gynecologist. I urge all of my colleagues to remember those symptoms and I ask each and every one of you to please make a special point of discussing them with your mothers, your wives and your daughters; and encourage them to talk about these symptoms with other women. The simple fact is that ignorance kills. The more women know what to look for, the more lives we can save. If we love our mothers, our wives and our daughters, and I am sure that we do, then we owe it to them to make the effort to talk with them about ovarian cancer.

The word “cancer” evokes powerful emotions. Along with many of my colleagues, I know firsthand how devastating cancer can be to the individual who has been diagnosed as well as their family. And I would like to pay a small homage to a constituent of mine and a dear friend, Kolleen Stacy, who recently lost her own personal battle with ovarian cancer. Kolleen first brought the issue of ovarian cancer to my attention, and it was her passion to protect other women from the scourge of ovarian cancer that convinced me to champion this cause in the People’s House. Today’s debate is a victory for all women, but in my mind, the fact that we are having this debate, the fact that in 2009 there is even such a thing as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is a tribute to the dedication and commitment of women like Kolleen Stacy. God bless you Kolleen.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support House Resolution 727. It is literally a matter of life and death.

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Reps. Israel and DeLauro Announce Ovarian Cancer Awareness Resolution Passage in the House of Representatives

In 2009, an estimated 21,500 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer

Washington, DC – On Tuesday, December 1, 2009, Reps. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) announced the passage of H.Res.727, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. This year, an estimated 21,550 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 14,600 will die from the disease.

“The great tragedy of ovarian cancer is that while it is treatable in its early stages, it is typically only discovered in the later, more dangerous stages.  Awareness saves lives. That’s why I’m proud to continue my support of Ovarian Cancer Awareness month,” said Rep. Israel, who introduced the resolution earlier this year.

“As an ovarian cancer survivor, I know firsthand that early recognition is one of the best forms of prevention,” said Rep. DeLauro. “Far too many women are not aware of the symptoms to look for and don’t seek help until it is too late. Increasing awareness of ovarian cancer is one of the few options available to women until a reliable early screening procedure is developed.”

“The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance is extremely grateful for Congress’ efforts to increase awareness of this deadly disease. Mr. Israel and Mrs. DeLauro are both remarkable advocates for women affected by ovarian cancer and we are delighted to see the Resolution pass with such large and bi-partisan support,” said Karen Orloff Kaplan, Chief Executive Officer, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

“The cancer community is enormously pleased by House passage of a resolution encouraging awareness of ovarian cancer, the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers. The resolution calls valuable attention to the disease, which will be diagnosed in an estimated 21,550 women and take the lives of 14,600 women this year alone,” said Daniel E. Smith, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

Women with ovarian cancer present few obvious symptoms and no early detection tool exists to test all women. Despite the 40 year-long “War on Cancer,” the mortality rate for ovarian cancer has not declined notably.

According to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, 90 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer do not have a family history that puts them at a higher risk. Due to the lack of a reliable screening test, 75 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in an advanced stage when the five-year survival rate is below 45 percent. If ovarian cancer is diagnosed and treated at an early stage, the survival rate can be as high as 90 percent.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is recognized annually in September by the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance with a series of events to increase public awareness of ovarian cancer. H.Res.727 passed with bipartisan support.

Rep. Israel serves as a co-chairman of the House Cancer Caucus. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, he has fought to increase funding for cancer research.

For more information on this release, contact: Lindsay Hamilton (202)225-3335 lindsay.hamilton@mail.house.gov

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