The U.S. Senate on Nov. 21 unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution introduced the same day by U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) that would designate November as Stomach Cancer Awareness Month.
“It is my hope that this resolution will spark conversations about stomach cancer and draw attention to efforts to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment efforts,” Sen. Young said.
The lawmaker sponsored Senate Resolution 437 with lead original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) “expressing support for the goals of Stomach Cancer Awareness Month,” according to the text of the resolution.
Sen. Young introduced the resolution in memory of Matthew Tully, a former reporter and columnist with The Indianapolis Star who in 2018 lost his battle to stomach cancer, which is the fifth most common type of cancer worldwide.
“In one of his final columns, Matt said his goal was to ‘spark conversations and offer a unique perspective.’ He did far more than that,” said Sen. Young. “Through the words he wrote, Matt brought communities together, shined a bright light on the problems we faced, and called attention to the everyday Hoosiers who were trying to make life better.”
The resolution also would resolve that the Senate “supports efforts to increase awareness of, and education about, stomach cancer among the general public of the United States; and recognizes the need for additional research into early diagnosis, screening and treatment for stomach cancer,” according to the bill’s text.