New Jersey-2022-SR37-Introduced

A Senate Resolution designating the week of May 9th through May 16th, 2020 as "Women's Lung Health Week" in the State of New Jersey.

Whereas, Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in women in the United States; and

Whereas, Lung cancer kills more women than breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers combined; and

Whereas, Lung cancer diagnoses among women have increased dramatically in the last 35 years, and the death rate for women with the disease has nearly doubled in the same time span; and

Whereas, Every five minutes, a woman is diagnosed with lung cancer. On average, less than half of all women diagnosed with lung cancer will be alive one year after diagnosis; and

Whereas, Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer but many Americans are unaware that genetics, exposure to secondhand smoke, radon gas, and air pollution also play a causal role in developing the disease; and

Whereas, Data show that 10 percent of people who develop lung cancer are nonsmokers, and one in five women diagnosed with lung cancer never smoked; and

Whereas, According to the American Lung Association's Women's Health Barometer survey, when asked to identify cancers that affect women, only one percent of women cited lung cancer; and

Whereas, More than half the women surveyed by the American Lung Association believed breast cancer killed more women, despite the fact that deaths associated with lung cancer surpassed those caused by breast cancer in 1987; and

Whereas, The survey also showed that when women learned the truth about lung cancer, especially the mortality facts, they were more likely to take action to address lung cancer; and

Whereas, Lung Force, a public health initiative launched by the American Lung Association, is helping to save lives, improve lung health, and prevent lung cancer by encouraging women to raise their voices and unite in making lung cancer a public health priority; and

Whereas, Advocacy and increased public awareness about the disease will result in innovations in lung cancer research, improved early detection methods, and better medical treatment for women with lung cancer and other lung diseases; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. The week of May 9th through May 16th, 2020 is designated as "Women's Lung Health Week" in the State of New Jersey to encourage the citizens of the State to advocate for, and help raise public awareness about, innovations in lung cancer research, improved early detection methods, and better medical treatment for women with lung cancer and other lung diseases.

2. The Governor is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon public officials, the health care community, and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the week with appropriate activities and programs.

3. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor and to the American Lung Association in New Jersey.

STATEMENT

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in women in the United States. Female deaths associated with lung cancer surpassed deaths associated with breast cancer in 1987, and lung cancer now kills more women than breast, cervical, and uterine cancers combined. The rate of lung cancer diagnoses for women has increased over the last 35 years and the lung cancer death rate has nearly doubled during that time. However, when surveyed, only one percent of women identified lung cancer as a cancer that affects women, and many were unaware that genetics and exposure to environmental agents such as secondhand smoke, radon gas, and air pollution also play a causal role in developing the disease.

This resolution designates May 9th through May 16th, 2020 as "Women's Lung Health Week" in the State of New Jersey to encourage the citizens of the State to advocate for, and help raise public awareness about, innovations in lung cancer research, improved early detection methods, and better medical treatment for women with lung cancer and other lung diseases.