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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Breast cancer is one of the most common types of |
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cancer among American women, and each October, Breast Cancer |
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Awareness Month helps to highlight the vital importance of |
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educating the public about the disease; and |
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WHEREAS, One in eight American women will develop breast |
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cancer during their lifetime; the American Cancer Society estimates |
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that in 2021, more than 281,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed, |
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and over 43,000 women will lose their lives to the disease; it is |
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the leading cause of death for Hispanic women and the second leading |
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cause of death for African American, Asian Pacific, and American |
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Indian women; in 2020, more than 18,000 Texans were diagnosed with |
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breast cancer; breast cancer is the most common type of cancer |
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globally, with more than two million people diagnosed in 2020; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1985, the month of October has been recognized |
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nationally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as a result of this |
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increased advocacy, billions of dollars have been spent on research |
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and education, while many of the brightest scientific minds have |
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been devoted to learning more about this disease; in addition, the |
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annual event has helped raise awareness about the need for |
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mammograms and other types of proactive screening; and |
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WHEREAS, These changes are especially significant because |
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the issues around women's health have often been insufficiently |
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examined by the medical community, resulting in women being |
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underdiagnosed and, at times, not receiving lifesaving |
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interventions; and |
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WHEREAS, The incidence of breast cancer is almost completely |
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the same among White and Black women, yet Black women face a |
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41 percent higher mortality rate than White women; and |
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WHEREAS, Social inequities perpetuate a disparity in |
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prevention, treatment, and survival of breast cancer; early |
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detection saves lives, and all Texans deserve the best health care |
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available, regardless of ability to pay or systemic barriers to |
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health care; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby recognize October 2021 as |
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month and encourage Texans to seek out more |
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information about breast cancer. |