House Joint Resolution 34

Oregon Laws 2007

Whereas colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in this country; and

Whereas more than 145,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and more than 55,000 Americans will die from colorectal cancer this year; and

Whereas in Oregon nearly 1,900 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 700 will die in the next year from the disease; and

Whereas colorectal cancer affects people regardless of their age, race or sex; and

Whereas men have a slightly higher rate of colorectal cancer than women; and

Whereas African-Americans have a higher rate of colorectal cancer incidence and death than Caucasians; and

Whereas colorectal cancer is one of the most detectable and, if found early, most treatable forms of cancer; and

Whereas the five-year survival rate is 90 percent when colorectal cancer is diagnosed at the localized stage, but the survival rate is only 10 percent when colorectal cancer is not diagnosed until the distant stage; and

Whereas screening and early detection save lives; and

Whereas many incidences of colorectal cancer, and deaths resulting from colorectal cancer, could be prevented if more people took advantage of colorectal cancer screening; and

Whereas colorectal cancer can be prevented through early identification and removal of precancerous polyps, detectable only through screening; and

Whereas early detection is the key to survival against colorectal cancer and more than half of all colorectal cancers can be prevented by early screening; and

Whereas 9 out of 10 colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in people over the age of 50, yet less than half of all Oregonians age 50 or older have had a recommended colorectal cancer screening in the past five years; and

Whereas in comparison 70 percent of female Oregonians have had mammograms; and

Whereas many factors contribute to the low screening rate for colorectal cancer, such as lack of public education and awareness about prevention and screening, negative attitudes about screening procedures and the absence of symptoms; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:

That we, the members of the Seventy-fourth Legislative Assembly, join in designation of the month of March in each year as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and highly encourage all Oregonians to get the appropriate screenings to prevent colorectal cancer; and be it further

Resolved, That we express our gratitude to the families and caretakers of all colorectal cancer patients in Oregon; and be it further

Resolved, That we honor those Oregonians we have lost to colorectal cancer, desire to provide hope to those who are fighting against this disease and celebrate the survivors of colorectal cancer.

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 5, 2007

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