Senator Jacobs offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 72.

            A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress and the United States Department of Health and Human Services to take steps to improve access to fertility preservation options for cancer patients.

            Whereas, Approximately 130,000 people under the age of 45 are diagnosed with cancer each year. At least 90 percent of patients within this age group will undergo potentially sterilizing treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation; and

            Whereas, Survivorship rates have dramatically increased over the years expanding the life expectancy of 71 percent of cancer patients by at least five years beyond the diagnosis of their disease.  The long-term consequences of cancer treatment, such as infertility, are of increasing concern to patients since they are highly likely to survive their cancer.  The diagnosis of infertility can be as devastating for many patients as the cancer diagnosis itself; and

            Whereas, Successful fertility preservation options for men and women include sperm banking, oocyte (egg) freezing, and ovarian and testicular tissue freezing.  Many cancer patients are given the option of taking steps to preserve their fertility before their potentially sterilizing cancer treatment begins.  However, many others do not take these steps because they were not informed by their health care professionals that their fertility is at risk, or, if they are informed of the risk, they are generally not counseled on their fertility preservation options; and

            Whereas, Unrelated factors such as marital status or poor prognosis should not preclude certain patients from being informed about their fertility risks and options.  The 2003-2004 President's Cancer Panel Report recognized that comprehensive written and verbal information regarding fertility side effects and fertility preservation options for all reproductive-age patients should be provided before treatment; and

Whereas, The great state of Michigan has an active, productive cancer survivor population, demonstrating that a cancer diagnosis is no longer a death sentence.  We should do everything possible to make fertility preservation options available for cancer patients; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the United States Congress and the United States Department of Health and Human Services to take steps to improve access to fertility preservation options for cancer patients by endeavoring to:

(A) encourage research that will strengthen fertility preservation options for cancer patients;

(B) continue to consider ways to improve access to fertility preservation options for cancer patients; and

(C) raise awareness about the fertility side effects and fertility preservation options for cancer patients; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the United States Congressional delegation and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.