PUBLIC LAW 103-367—OCT. 14, 1994 108 STAT. 3473 Public Law 103-367 103d Congress Joint Resolution To designate October 1994 as "National Breast Cancer Awareness Month". Whereas breast cancer will strike an estimated 182,000 women and 1,000 men in the United States in 1994; Whereas the risk of developing breast cancer increases as a woman grows older; Whereas breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, and will kill an estimated 46,000 women and 300 men in 1994; Whereas the 5-year survival rate for localized breast cancer has risen from 78 percent in the 1940's to over 90 percent today; Whereas most breast cancers are detected by the woman herself; Whereas educating both the public and health care providers about the importance of early detection will result in reducing breast cancer mortality; Whereas appropriate use of screening mammography, in conjunction with clinical examination and breast self-examination, can result in the detection of many breast cancers early in their development and increase the survival rate to nearly 100 percent; Whereas data from controlled trials clearly demonstrate that deaths from breast cancer are significantly reduced in women who have been screened by mammography; Whereas many women are reluctant to have screening mammograms for a variety of reasons, such as the cost of testing, lack of information, or fear; Whereas access to screening mammography is directly related to socioeconomic status; Whereas increased awareness about the importance of screening mammography will result in the procedure being regularly requested by the patient and recommended by the health care provider; and Whereas it is projected that more women will use this lifesaving test as it becomes increasingly available and affordable: Now, therefore, be it Oct. 14. 1994 [S.J. Res. 185]
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