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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
21-88
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
July 14, 2015
To declare the month of October 2015 as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” in the District of Columbia.
WHEREAS, approximately 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women before the end of 2015 and, of those cases, about 430 will occur in women of the District of Columbia;
WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 40,290 women in the United States will die from the disease in 2015 and, of those cases, about 80 will be women in the District;
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, death rates for breast cancer have steadily decreased in women since 1989;
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, an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the U.S. during 2015 and about 2,350 new cases are expected 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 District of Columbia 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 be treated for this disease.
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that the Council of the District of Columbia honors breast cancer patients, survivors, and their families and recognizes the month of October 2015 as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” in the District of Columbia to promote research for a cure.
Sec. 2. This resolution may be cited as the “Breast Cancer Awareness Month Recognition Resolution of 2015”.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
