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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 15
BY SENATORS CLAITOR, ALLAIN, BUFFINGTON, GUILLORY, HEITMEIER AND
NEVERS
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request that the citizens of Louisiana recognize the life-saving benefits of
routine colorectal screening examinations and schedule such examinations as
deemed appropriate by their physicians.
WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer occurring in the
United States, with over one hundred forty thousand new patients diagnosed in the single
year of 2012; and
WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths,
with over fifty thousand patients dying in 2012; and
WHEREAS, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is one in twenty; and
WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of colorectal cancer cases is preventable
with routine screening examinations; and
WHEREAS, current screening guidelines recommend that all those persons age fifty
and older obtain routine screening examinations, generally once every ten years; and
WHEREAS, screening guidelines recommend colorectal examinations starting at an
earlier age if there is a family history of colorectal cancer or symptoms of colorectal cancer
are experienced; and
WHEREAS, less than thirty percent of those for whom colorectal screening
examinations are recommended are scheduling such diagnostic examinations; and
WHEREAS, colorectal specialists, primarily gastroenterologists, consult with
surgeons to provide state-of-the-art, evidence-based appropriate surgical treatment for
colorectal cancer; and
WHEREAS, colorectal specialists work in conjunction with oncologists, radiologists,
and other medical professionals to provide the most appropriate and beneficial medical
treatment, resulting in optimal medical outcomes for colorectal cancer patients. SCR NO. 15 ENROLLED
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
recognize the life-saving benefits of routine colorectal screening examinations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge
Louisianians to recognize the life-saving benefits of routine colorectal screening
examinations and to schedule colorectal screening examinations as deemed appropriate by
their physicians.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana further recognizes
the critical role of medical specialists, especially those of gastroenterologists, oncologists,
and radiologists, in providing the optimal medical outcomes for colorectal cancer patients
in Louisiana.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES