Lynch Syndrome Hereditary Cancers Awareness Day

WHEREAS, over 600,000 persons in the United States have Lynch syndrome, but less that five percent of those persons are currently diagnosed; and

WHEREAS, Lynch syndrome is a hereditary predisposition to a litany of cancers at a high lifetime risk, including an 85% lifetime risk of colon cancer, an up to 65% lifetime risk of endometrial cancer and higher than average risks of contracting ovarian cancer, gastric tract cancers, hepatobiliary cancers, renal pelvic cancers, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer and brain cancer, often at an early age; and

WHEREAS, knowing one’s family medical history of cancers may prompt genetic testing; and

WHEREAS, a positive genetic test will increase cancer screening and cancers will be detected early and treated or removed often before becoming life threatening; and

WHEREAS, the numbers of cancer deaths will reduce as a result of public awareness of Lynch syndrome; and

WHEREAS, thousands of lives will be saved as the result of a diagnosis of Lynch syndrome:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim March 30, 2011 as

Lynch Syndrome Hereditary Cancers Awareness Day

in the state of Alabama and encourage all those in our state to join in this observance.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 18th day of February 2011.

      

Governor Robert Bentley