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Special recognition promoting September 25, 2022 to October 1, 2022, as National Hereditary Cancer Week.
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, it is believed about 5 to 10 percent of cancers are hereditary and hereditary genetics can show a predisposition for various cancers, including breast cancer and ovarian cancer; and
WHEREAS, women with the BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 mutations have a 65 percent chance of developing breast cancer and a 60 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, the single greatest ovarian cancer risk factor is a family history of the disease; and
WHEREAS, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women, age 35 to 54; and
WHEREAS, as many as 90% of those with a genetic mutation that predisposes them to cancer are unaware, leaving millions of people at risk; and
WHEREAS, hereditary cancers are often more aggressive than other cancers, and occur at a younger age, when people are less likely to undergo cancer screening; and
WHEREAS, individuals with a hereditary risk for cancer require different cancer screening and risk management recommendations than the general population; and
WHEREAS, African Americans and Hispanic Americans are less likely to have access to hereditary cancer information, counseling and appropriate healthcare; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Cancer Institute, the features of a person’s personal or family medical history that may suggest a hereditary cancer syndrome include: Cancer was diagnosed at an unusually young age, family members with breast or ovarian cancer, family members with colon cancer and endometrial cancer, or being a member of a racial or ethnic group that is known to have an increased risk of having a certain inherited cancer susceptibility syndrome, such as those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent; and
WHEREAS, raising awareness of hereditary cancer and knowledge of a genetic predisposition can directly lead to preventive strategies that can reduce the chance of dying from not only hereditary breast and ovarian cancer but also hereditary colorectal, endometrial, melanoma, pancreatic, prostate and more cancers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOGNIZED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that September 25, 2022 to October 1, 2022, be recognized as National Hereditary Cancer Week; and
BE IT FURTHER RECOGNIZED, that this County Board encourages Lake County residents to reach out to a medical professional for a genetic screening and evaluation for early detection, prevention and treatment, especially if a family member has been diagnosed with a hereditary cancer.
DATED in Waukegan, Illinois, on September 13, 2022.