PolicyBrief
H.CON.RES. 55
119th CongressOct 6th 2025
Designating September 2025 as "Gynecologic Cancers Awareness Month".
IN COMMITTEE

This resolution officially designates September 2025 as Gynecologic Cancers Awareness Month to promote education, research, and early detection efforts for cancers affecting women's reproductive systems.

Debbie Dingell
D

Debbie Dingell

Representative

MI-6

LEGISLATION

Congress Designates September 2025 for Gynecologic Cancers Awareness: What This Means for Women's Health

This resolution officially designates September 2025 as "Gynecologic Cancers Awareness Month." Essentially, this is Congress throwing its weight behind a major public health issue: the cancers affecting women’s reproductive systems, including ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers. The bill’s main goal is to increase national attention on these diseases, which currently result in nearly 119,000 new cases and over 34,600 deaths annually. By formally recognizing this month, the resolution aims to support ongoing efforts to improve early detection and treatment outcomes.

The Problem: When Screening Falls Short

For most people, health awareness months might seem like just another calendar event, but this designation addresses a critical gap in women’s health. The resolution specifically notes that unlike cervical cancer—which has effective screening tests and a preventative vaccine—there are no reliable early screening methods available for ovarian and endometrial cancers. This means these cancers are often caught late, when treatment is much harder and survival rates are lower. For instance, an office worker balancing a demanding schedule might miss subtle symptoms, only to find out later that the cancer is advanced because routine physicals don't include effective screening tools for these specific diseases.

The Real-World Impact: Better Outcomes Through Awareness

So, what does a non-binding resolution like this actually do for you? It provides political and moral backing to public health campaigns and research funding. Congress is using this resolution to encourage everyone—from healthcare providers to the general public—to actively promote awareness about risks, prevention, and symptoms. This push for awareness is vital because early diagnosis is often the only way to significantly improve survival rates for these cancers.

Specifically, the resolution supports three key areas: spreading information about causes and risks, funding research for better treatments and cures, and generally improving health outcomes. For the average woman, this means that public health organizations and medical professionals will be more encouraged and funded to push out critical information. The hope is that widespread awareness will lead to earlier conversations with doctors and quicker follow-up when symptoms appear, ultimately reducing the burden of these diseases on families and the healthcare system. It's a strategic move to focus national attention on a serious health challenge where early detection is currently the weakest link.