HLS 20RS-726 ORIGINAL 2020 Regular Session HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 15 BY REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Designates March 2020 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Louisiana and commends the Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center 1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION 2To designate March 2020 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Louisiana and to 3 commend the Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center. 4 WHEREAS, it is estimated that in 2020, more than one hundred thousand individuals 5in the United States will be diagnosed with colon cancer and another forty thousand will be 6diagnosed with rectal cancer; and 7 WHEREAS, in the United States, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of 8cancer-related deaths in men and women, and in 2020, 53,200 people are expected to die 9because of the disease; and 10 WHEREAS, at present, there are more than one million survivors of colorectal 11cancer in the United States; and 12 WHEREAS, while there is no sure way to prevent colorectal cancer, there are 13numerous things individuals can do to reduce their risk of getting the disease; and 14 WHEREAS, the most effective way to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer is to 15undergo colocrectal cancer screening; and 16 WHEREAS, similarly, maintaining a healthy weight, increasing the amount of 17physical activity, limiting the eating of red and processed meats, and eating more fruits and 18vegetables are also effective ways of lowering the risk of getting colorectal cancer; and 19 WHEREAS, during the month of March each year, public awareness and educational 20campaigns are held on colorectal cancer prevention, screening, and symptoms; and Page 1 of 2 HLS 20RS-726 ORIGINAL HCR NO. 15 1 WHEREAS, the goal of the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer 2(NAPRC) is to ensure that patients with rectal cancer receive appropriate care through the 3use of a multidisciplinary approach in which a team of specialists work in tandem to provide 4high-quality care; and 5 WHEREAS, at present, there are only fifteen NAPRC accredited programs in the 6United States, and the Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center is the only 7cancer center in the state of Louisiana to receive this accreditation. 8 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 9designate March 2020 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Louisiana, and does hereby 10commend Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center on attaining 11accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer. 12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the 13cancer center leadership team of the Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer 14Center. DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HCR 15 Original 2020 Regular Session Davis Designates March 2020 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in La. and commends the Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center. Page 2 of 2