Reps. Price, Barnett, Brown, Constan, Crawford, Darany, Denby, Farrington, Geiss, Goike, Heise, Hooker, Horn, Huuki, Knollenberg, Kowall, LeBlanc, Liss, Lori, MacMaster, Nathan, Poleski, Rogers, Segal, Slavens, Tyler and Yonker offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 137.

            A resolution to declare October 2011 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, October has long been recognized across America as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in an effort to raise public awareness about the importance of early detection; and

            Whereas, In 2011, it is estimated that among U.S. women, there will be 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 57,650 new cases of in situ breast cancer along with 39,520 breast cancer deaths; and

            Whereas, According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Michigan and the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Michigan women; and

            Whereas, In 2010, 7,340 women in Michigan were newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and 1,320 women died of the disease; and

Whereas, The five year survival rate among women whose breast cancer has not spread beyond the breast at the time of diagnosis is 98.3 percent; and

            Whereas, All women are at risk for breast cancer and the two most important risk factors are being female and getting older; and

            Whereas, Since the inception of Breast Cancer Awareness month in 1985, mammography use across America has doubled and breast cancer death rates have declined; and

            Whereas, Efforts to promote increased mammography screening have resulted in the third Friday in October being declared National Mammography Day; and

            Whereas, Even with impressive progress, many women do not utilize mammography at regular intervals, despite the fact that mammography is the best available method of detecting breast changes that may be cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt, and that breast cancer deaths could decline further if all women age 40 and older received mammograms at regular intervals; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare October 2011 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Michigan; and be it further

            Resolved, That the members of this legislative body urge all Michiganders to use this month as an opportunity to educate themselves about breast cancer and take proactive steps to reduce their risk and get appropriate screening.