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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
19-309
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
October 2, 2012
To declare the month of October 2012 as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” in the District of Columbia.
WHEREAS, an estimated 178,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States and the disease is the cause of 40,000 deaths per year;
WHEREAS, breast cancer comprises 22.9% of all cancers in women and approximately 81% of cases occur in those over the age of 50 years;
WHEREAS, National Cancer Institute estimates there were 232,620 new breast cancer diagnoses (230,480 female, 2,140 male) and 39,970 deaths (39,520 female and 450 male) in the United States in 2011;
WHEREAS, approximately 229,060 people in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer before the end of 2012, and the American Cancer Society estimates that 39,920 men and women will die from the disease this year;
WHEREAS, there are several types of breast cancer—divided into non-invasive and invasive types—which can be diagnosed at different stages of development and can grow at different rates;
WHEREAS, if cancer is detected at an early stage, it can be treated before it spreads to other parts of the body;
WHEREAS, the exact cause of breast cancer is not fully understood, but many factors increase the likelihood of developing it, including age and family medical history;
WHEREAS, both sexes can get breast cancer but it is more than 100 times more common in women than it is in men;
WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society is a nearly 100-year-old, community-based, voluntary health organization, in both the District of Columbia and nationwide, which is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem;
WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society established Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1985 to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer;
WHEREAS, the Capital Breast Care Center (“CBCC”), located in the District of Columbia, provides comprehensive, culturally appropriate breast cancer screening services and health education to women in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, regardless of their ability to pay;
WHEREAS, the CBCC offers onsite mammograms, ultrasound-guided biopsies, health education, clinical breast examinations, patient navigation services for women with abnormal screens or breast cancer symptoms, and transportation services to and from appointments;
WHEREAS, the CBCC has Spanish-English bilingual staff to ensure that no language barriers exist for those in need of care; and
WHEREAS, the District of Columbia anticipates the day when no woman or man has to treated for this disease.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Breast Cancer Awareness Month Recognition Resolution of 2012”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia honors breast cancer patients, survivors and their families, and declares October 2012 as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” in the District of Columbia to promote research for a cure.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
