SLS 16RS-1470 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 71
BY SENATOR CLAITOR
HEALTH CARE. Expresses the recognition of the Louisiana Legislature on the need for
colorectal cancer screening examinations.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To urge and request that the citizens of Louisiana recognize the lifesaving benefits of routine
3 colorectal screening examinations and schedule such examinations as deemed
4 appropriate by their physicians.
5 WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer occurring in the
6 United States, with an estimated one hundred thirty-six thousand eight hundred thirty new
7 cases of colon cancer, thirty-nine thousand six hundred ten new cases of rectal cancer, and
8 seven thousand two hundred seventy new cases of anal cancer occurring during 2016; and
9 WHEREAS, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in men
10 and women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with an
11 estimated fifty thousand three hundred ten deaths possible in 2016; and
12 WHEREAS, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is one in twenty; and
13 WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of colorectal cancer cases are preventable
14 with routine screening examinations; and
15 WHEREAS, ninety percent of new colorectal cancer cases and ninety-five percent
16 of deaths attributed to colorectal cancer occur in persons over the age of fifty; and
17 WHEREAS, current screening guidelines recommend that all those persons aged
18 fifty and older obtain routine screening examinations; and
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SLS 16RS-1470 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, screening guidelines recommend colorectal examinations starting at an
2 earlier age if there is a family history or symptoms of colorectal cancer are experienced; and
3 WHEREAS, less than thirty percent of those for whom colorectal screening
4 examinations are recommended are scheduling such diagnostic examinations; and
5 WHEREAS, colorectal specialists provide state-of-the-art surgical treatment for
6 colorectal cancer; and
7 WHEREAS, colorectal specialists work in conjunction with oncologists, radiologists,
8 and other medical professionals to provide the most appropriate and beneficial medical
9 treatment, resulting in optimal medical outcomes for colorectal cancer patients.
10 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
11 recognize the lifesaving benefits of routine colorectal screening examinations and lifesaving
12 efforts by colorectal specialists.
13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge
14 Louisianians to recognize the lifesaving benefits of routine colorectal screening
15 examinations and to schedule colorectal screening examinations as deemed appropriate by
16 their physicians.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana further recognizes
18 the critical role of colorectal specialists, oncologists, and radiologists in providing the
19 optimal medical outcomes for colorectal cancer patients in Louisiana.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
SCR 71 Original 2016 Regular Session Claitor
Requests that the citizens of La. recognize the lifesaving benefits of routine colorectal
screening examinations and schedule such examinations as deemed appropriate by their
physicians.
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