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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 15
BY SENATORS CLAITOR, ALLAIN, BUFFINGTON, GUILLORY, HEITMEIER AND
NEVERS
HEALTH CARE. Expresses the sense of the Louisiana Legislature on the need for
colorectal cancer screening examinations.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request that the citizens of Louisiana recognize the life-saving benefits of2
routine colorectal screening examinations and schedule such examinations as3
deemed appropriate by their physicians.4
WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer occurring in the5
United States, with over one hundred forty thousand new patients diagnosed in the single6
year of 2012; and7
WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths,8
with over fifty thousand patients dying in 2012; and9
WHEREAS, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is one in twenty; and10
WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of colorectal cancer cases is preventable11
with routine screening examinations; and12
WHEREAS, current screening guidelines recommend that all those persons aged13
fifty and older obtain routine screening examinations, generally once every ten years; and14
WHEREAS, screening guidelines recommend colorectal examinations starting at an15
earlier age if there is a family history of colorectal cancer or symptoms of colorectal cancer16
are experienced; and17
WHEREAS, less than thirty percent of those for whom colorectal screening18 SCR NO. 15
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examinations are recommended are scheduling such diagnostic examinations; and1
WHEREAS, colorectal specialists, primarily gastroenterologists, consult with2
surgeons to provide state-of-the-art, evidence-based appropriate surgical treatment for3
colorectal cancer; and4
WHEREAS, colorectal specialists work in conjunction with oncologists, radiologists,5
and other medical professionals to provide the most appropriate and beneficial medical6
treatment, resulting in optimal medical outcomes for colorectal cancer patients.7
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby8
recognize the life-saving benefits of routine colorectal screening examinations.9
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge10
Louisianians to recognize the life-saving benefits of routine colorectal screening11
examinations and to schedule colorectal screening examinations as deemed appropriate by12
their physicians. 13
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana further recognizes14
the critical role of medical specialists, especially those of gastroenterologists, oncologists,15
and radiologists, in providing the optimal medical outcomes for colorectal cancer patients16
in Louisiana.17
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
Claitor SCR No. 15
Urges and requests the citizens of Louisiana to recognize the life-saving benefits of routine
colorectal screening examinations and to schedule such examinations as deemed appropriate
by their physicians.