Full Text of HR0152 096th General Assembly
HR0152 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, Although it is relatively uncommon in the United | 3 |
| States, accounting for about 1% of total diagnosed cancers, the | 4 |
| incidence of esophageal cancer has been increasing; and
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| WHEREAS, One factor contributing to this trend is greater | 6 |
| prevalence of obesity, which increases the risk of one form of | 7 |
| esophageal cancer known as adenocarcinoma; according to the | 8 |
| American Cancer Society's estimates, in 2008 there were 16,470 | 9 |
| new cases of esophageal cancer causing 14,280 deaths; the | 10 |
| five-year relative survival rate for localized stage | 11 |
| esophageal cancer is 34%, and the five-year survival rate for | 12 |
| all stages combined is only 16%; and
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| WHEREAS, Symptoms of esophageal cancer generally do not | 14 |
| appear until the disease has advanced; this fact illustrates | 15 |
| the importance of educating the public about the various risk | 16 |
| factors for this disease; early detection and proper diagnosis | 17 |
| are also critical in order to treat esophageal cancer | 18 |
| effectively; new ways to detect changes in genes may lead to | 19 |
| the development of more accurate screening tests to find | 20 |
| esophageal cancer at an earlier, more curable stage; and | 21 |
| WHEREAS, It is hoped that understanding these changes will | 22 |
| lead to gene therapies for preventing or treating esophageal |
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| cancer; avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol use can | 2 |
| substantially reduce the risk of developing esophageal cancer; | 3 |
| men have esophageal cancer at rates about three times greater | 4 |
| than women do, primarily due to men's greater use of tobacco | 5 |
| and alcohol; in addition, the risk of dying from this cancer is | 6 |
| increased by approximately 50% in obese men; and
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| WHEREAS, People between the ages of 70 and 84 have the | 8 |
| greatest risk for cancer of the esophagus; nearly 80% of people | 9 |
| diagnosed are between the ages of 55 and 85;
African Americans | 10 |
| are twice as likely as Caucasians to have cancer of the | 11 |
| esophagus; people with long-standing reflux or people with | 12 |
| Barrett esophagus, a condition associated with long-term | 13 |
| reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus, are at sharply | 14 |
| increased risk; and
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| WHEREAS, A diet that is low in fruits, vegetables, and | 16 |
| vitamins A, B2, and C increases the risk for esophageal cancer; | 17 |
| specific quality-of-life issues associated with esophageal | 18 |
| cancer include the inability to eat solid food, guilt | 19 |
| associated with a history of tobacco and alcohol use, and | 20 |
| end-of-life issues due to the low survival rate; and
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| WHEREAS, Cancer of the esophagus usually is diagnosed at a | 22 |
| late stage and therefore has a poor outlook for survival; this | 23 |
| kind of cancer can virtually be prevented by stopping, or never |
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| starting, tobacco use and by moderating alcohol use; screening | 2 |
| endoscopy for people at high risk for this cancer can also | 3 |
| increase early detection rates; typically, the earlier cancer | 4 |
| is detected and diagnosed, the more successful the treatment, | 5 |
| thus enhancing the survival rate; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | 7 |
| NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we | 8 |
| proclaim the month of May of 2009 be designated as Esophageal | 9 |
| Cancer Awareness Month in the State of Illinois; and be it | 10 |
| further
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| RESOLVED, That we declare that the Illinois government has | 12 |
| a responsibility: | 13 |
| (a) to raise awareness about the importance of screening | 14 |
| methods for, and treatment of, esophageal cancer; | 15 |
| (b) to increase research funding that is commensurate with | 16 |
| the burden of the disease so that the screening and treatment | 17 |
| of esophageal cancer may be improved, and so that the causes | 18 |
| of, and a cure for, prostate cancer may be discovered; and | 19 |
| (c) to continue to consider ways for improving access to, | 20 |
| and the quality of, health care services for detecting and | 21 |
| treating esophageal cancer; and be it further | 22 |
| RESOLVED, That the Governor is requested to issue a | 23 |
| proclamation calling upon the public officials and the citizens |
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| of Illinois to observe the month with appropriate activities | 2 |
| and programs annually; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 4 |
| delivered to Governor Pat Quinn.
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