S.J.R. 16

1

RESOLUTION URGING COMPREHENSIVE
2 CANCER CONTROL PLAN FOR THE STATE
3 2005 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Karen Hale
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This joint resolution of the Legislature recognizes efforts to formulate a Comprehensive
10 Cancer Control Plan and identify ways to prevent and control cervical cancer.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This resolution:
13 . recognizes the Department of Health and the Utah Cancer Action Network for
14 taking the lead in formulating the Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan; and
15 . expresses support for the efforts of the Department of Health and the Utah Cancer
16 Action Network in the identification of ways to prevent and control cervical cancer.
17 Special Clauses:
18 None
19
20 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
21 WHEREAS, following breast cancer, cervical cancer is the second most common
22 cancer in women worldwide;
23 WHEREAS, according to federal government statistics, cervical cancer is the third
24 most common gynecological cancer among American women, with approximately 12,200 new
25 cases diagnosed annually;
26 WHEREAS, 4,100 of the 12,200 new cases of cervical cancer cases diagnosed each
27 year result in fatalities;

28 WHEREAS, cervical cancer is the only cancer with one known cause - human
29 papillomavirus (HPV);
30 WHEREAS, with regular and accurate screening, cervical cancer is highly preventable;
31 WHEREAS, widespread screening programs have helped to reduce death rates of
32 women from cervical cancer, but women are still dying even with advanced medical techniques
33 and evaluative procedures;
34 WHEREAS, cervical cancer cases in the United States are generally attributed to a lack
35 of education, a reduction of access available to regular cervical cancer, and a lack of screening
36 accuracy;
37 WHEREAS, experience shows that increasing cervical cancer awareness among
38 women, especially the underserved women within the state, significantly reduces the
39 probability of mortality;
40 WHEREAS, cervical cancer disproportionately affects minority women and women
41 with lower incomes because they are less likely to have access to routine screening;
42 WHEREAS, approximately half of all cervical cancer cases are in women who have
43 never been screened, and 10% of cases in women who have not been screened within the last
44 five years;
45 WHEREAS, the median age of cervical cancer patients at diagnosis is 47 years, the
46 youngest median age for all female reproductive cancers;
47 WHEREAS, new screening technologies, including Food and Drug
48 Administration-approved testing for HPV, which is the cause of virtually all cervical cancers,
49 offer new opportunities to finally eliminate this potentially deadly disease through early
50 identification of women at increased risk;
51 WHEREAS, leading medical organizations, including the American College of
52 Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Cancer Society, and the Association of
53 Reproductive Health Professionals, have recently updated their screening guidelines to include
54 Food and Drug Administration-approved testing for HPV;
55 WHEREAS, women are entitled to proper cervical cancer information so that they can
56 be empowered to make informed healthcare decisions; and
57 WHEREAS, women are entitled to have access to routine screening, including the most
58 accurate methods available:

59 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
60 recognizes the Utah Department of Health and the Utah Cancer Action Network in taking the
61 lead in formulating the Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan for the state, including the review
62 of data regarding cervical cancer of women in the state, evaluating current methods used to
63 provide women with information regarding cervical cancer, access to regular screening, and
64 options for increasing screening accuracy.
65 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports the Department of Health
66 and the Utah Cancer Action Network in the identification of pockets of need, priority
67 strategies, and new technologies, including newly introduced therapies and preventive vaccines
68 which are effective in preventing and controlling cervical cancer.
69 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature recognizes that through education
70 and screening, women can lower their likelihood for developing cervical cancer, and that
71 through early detection, cervical cancer can be successfully treated after it develops.
72 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges the Utah Cancer Action
73 Network and the Department of Health to increase their efforts to prevent cervical cancer and
74 increase awareness of the link between HPV and cervical cancer.
75 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges the Utah Cancer Action
76 Network to review and, or, update the State Comprehensive Cancer Plan as needed and present
77 the updated information to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
78 House of Representatives, and that it also be posted on the State's website, www.utahcancer.cc.
79 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the American
80 College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Cancer Society, the Association of
81 Reproductive Health Professionals, and the Utah Cancer Action Network housed at the Utah
82 Department of Health.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-2-05 10:38 AM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel