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Today, Congressman David Scott was joined by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large) in introducing H.R. 5794, the Endometrial Cancer Research and Education Act of 2020 to expand federal research on endometrial cancer and to increase awareness among patients and health care providers.

The Endometrial Cancer Research and Education Act would authorize $500,000 annually from fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to support research at the National Institute of Health (NIH) on endometrial cancer. This bill would also create an Endometrial Cancer Public Education Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) work to create the Endometrial Cancer Public Education Program to provide up-to-date information healthcare providers about risk factors and available treatments for endometrial cancer.

“Too many women across the country have been affected by this condition, which is treatable if detected early,” said Congressman Scott. “The Endometrial Cancer Research and Education Act will provide more women and families with access to high-quality care and preventative screenings from informed health care providers. Highlighting this important women’s health issue and ensuring that patients and providers learn more about risk factors for endometrial cancer will remain top priorities.”

Background

In 2019, nearly 62,000 women were diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Unlike most other types of cancer, the number of women living with endometrial cancer in the United States has significantly increased in recent years. Although endometrial cancer is the 4^th most common cancer among women in the U.S. after breast, lung, and colon cancers, seniors do not receive early diagnostic screenings for the disease. If endometrial cancer is diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate is about 95 percent. According to the American Cancer Society, a supporter of H.R. 5794, an additional 65,000 women will be diagnosed with endometrial cancer this year, and about 12,600 women could suffer life-threatening complications.

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