2023 House Resolution 133

Whereas, Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths of women in the United States and causes more deaths than any other gynecologic cancer. An American woman’s lifetime risk of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is about 1 in 78; and

Whereas, The American Cancer Society estimates 19,710 cases of ovarian cancer will be newly diagnosed in 2023 and 13,270 individuals will die from the disease nationwide, including 610 new cases and 460 deaths in Michigan. The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 50 percent and survival rates vary greatly depending on the stage of diagnosis. The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is over 90 percent for individuals diagnosed in early stages; and

Whereas, While the mammogram can detect breast cancer and the Pap smear can detect cervical cancer, there is no reliable early detection test for ovarian cancer. In June 2007, the first national consensus statement on ovarian cancer symptoms was developed to provide consistency in describing symptoms to make it easier for women to learn and remember those symptoms; and

Whereas, Women of color, low-income women, and women living in rural areas have more barriers to accessing standard quality of care and are more likely to receive care at a facility that has poorer adherence to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guidelines. Black women with ovarian cancer are more likely to have late-stage diagnoses, receive lower quality clinical services, and have lower five-year survival rates than non-Black women; and

Whereas, Too many people remain unaware that the symptoms of ovarian cancer often include bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, urinary symptoms, and several other vague symptoms that are often easily confused with other diseases. The lack of an early detection test for ovarian cancer combined with its vague symptoms mean that approximately 80 percent of cases of ovarian cancer are detected at an advanced stage; Improved awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer by the public and health care providers can lead to a quicker diagnosis; and

Whereas, Persistent issues collecting and reporting data related to ovarian cancer risk, treatment, and outcomes are particularly pronounced and impede the development of effective policy; and

Whereas, All women are at risk for ovarian cancer, but approximately 20 percent of women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer have a hereditary predisposition to ovarian cancer, which places them at even higher risk. Scientists and physicians have uncovered changes in the BRCA genes that some women inherit from their parents, which may make those women thirty times more likely to develop ovarian cancer. Family history of a woman has been found to play an important role in accurately assessing their risk of developing ovarian cancer and medical experts believe that family history should be taken into consideration during the annual well-woman visit of any woman; and

Whereas, Women who know that they are at high risk of ovarian cancer may undertake prophylactic measures, such as opportunistic salpingectomy, to help reduce the risk of developing this disease; and

Whereas, Guidelines issued by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and Society of Gynecologic Oncology recommend that all individuals diagnosed with ovarian cancer receive genetic counseling and genetic testing regardless of their family history. Studies consistently show that compliance with these guidelines is alarmingly low, with recently published National Cancer Institute-funded research finding that in 2013 and 2014, only one-third of ovarian cancer survivors have undergone such testing; and

Whereas, According to a 2016 consensus report by the National Academy of Medicine, ‘‘there remain surprising gaps in the fundamental knowledge about and understanding of ovarian cancer’’ across all aspects of the disease. Ongoing investments in ovarian cancer research and education and awareness efforts are critical to closing these gaps and improving survivorship for women with ovarian cancer; and

Whereas, Each year during the month of September, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) and community partner organizations hold a number of events to increase public awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare September 2023 as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in the state of Michigan. We urge increased public awareness of this condition and support the goals and ideals of its detection and treatment.