Thought I'd share this with you........
From: Chrissy492@aol.com
Sun Mar 31 11:36:52 2002
One of my friends emailed me this press release and I thought I'd share this
with you. Hugs and love to all ") ~Chrissie xo's PS - it's long but worth
the read. ")
For Immediate Release
SENATE BACKS "ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH" RESOLUTION
California State Senate Overwhelmingly Approves First Official Legislation
Proclaiming Month of March as "Endometriosis Awareness Month"
DELRAY BEACH, FL. / March 25, 2002 -- The Endometriosis Research Center (ERC)
is delighted to announce that Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 160 was
unanimously passed by the California State Senate on March 21, 2002.
Introduced by Assemblyman George Runner (R-36th District) and Assemblywoman
Patricia Bates (R-73rd District) and supported by 70 Co-sponsors, ACR 160
officially proclaims the month of March as "Endometriosis Awareness Month."
The ERC, which began working with State officials on ACR 160 last summer, has
celebrated March as Endometriosis Awareness Month since the organization was
founded; however, this is the first official legislation recognizing the
disease. "Women and teens living with Endometriosis every day know all too
well the far-reaching impact this illness has on our society," said Michelle
E.
Marvel, Founder and Executive Director of the ERC. "However, outside of the
Endometriosis population, Endometriosis awareness is severely lacking. We
continue to find that Endometriosis remains a poorly understood disease,
despite the fact that millions of women and teens here in the United States
alone suffer from the illness," Marvel went on to say. "We are extremely
gratified that the State of California has recognized this significant need
for
broader awareness and understanding of the disease."
As outlined in ACR 160, "ERC Casual Days" and other fundraising and awareness
efforts are held annually during the month of March in celebration of the
ERC's
anniversary. "The goal of these events is to educate the general public
about
the significance of Endometriosis, to support and assist those living with
the
disease, and to raise funds for research, support and educational efforts
concerning Endometriosis," said Marvel.
Endometriosis is a painful reproductive and immunological illness that is
more
prevalent than Breast Cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. The
disease, a leading cause of female infertility, chronic pelvic pain and
hysterectomy, affects over 7 million women and teens in the United States
alone
with an estimated 70 million more worldwide. Endometriosis can be so
debilitating as to render a woman or girl unable to work, care for herself or
her family, or attend school or social obligations. "Endometriosis is more
than just 'bad cramps'," noted Marvel. "This disease can negatively impact
every aspect of a woman or teen's life, including her job, her self-esteem,
her
relationships, and her ability to function on a daily basis."
With Endometriosis, tissue like the endometrium (the tissue inside the uterus
which builds up and is shed each month during menstruation) is found outside
the uterus, in other areas of the body. These implants respond to hormonal
commands each month and break down and bleed. However, unlike the
endometrium,
these tissue deposits have no way of leaving the body. The result is
internal
bleeding, inflammation of surrounding areas, expression of irritating enzymes
and formation of scar tissue. In addition, depending on the location of the
growths, interference with the bowel, bladder, intestines and other areas of
the pelvic cavity can occur. Endometriosis has even been found lodged in the
skin and at other extrapelvic locations like the arm, leg and even brain.
Symptoms include pelvic pain with or without menstruation, infertility,
miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, pain during or after
intercourse, gastrointestinal difficulties, fatigue, chronic pain, allergies
and other immune system-related dysfunction. Recent studies have also shown
an
elevated risk of certain cancers and autoimmune disorders in women with
Endometriosis.
Currently, Endometriosis can only be diagnosed through invasive surgery and
there is no definitive cure for the illness; however, research is underway
concerning non-invasive diagnostic testing and new, more effective
treatments.
The ERC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was founded by Executive
Director Michelle E. Marvel in 1997 to address the growing needs of the
international Endometriosis community. The ERC helps to improve the quality
of
life for those with the disease through their International support programs,
which includes over 40 in-person support groups and the Internet's largest
electronic Endometriosis support group; provides practitioners, patients and
all those interested in the disease with extensive educational materials;
raises awareness about Endometriosis; works with legislators to facilitate
proper funding for Endometriosis research; assists medical industry leaders
with developmental studies and data collection on the disease; and lobbies
the
National Institutes of Heath and similar foundations in support of various
research grants. The ERC is currently implementing their latest program for
Professionals, designed to encourage global collaboration and advance the
study
and treatment of Endometriosis.
Unlike similar women's health organizations, the organization is unique in
that
it is not fee-based. There is never a cost to benefit from the ERC programs.
The ERC exists solely on the donations and contributions of concerned
individuals and organizations that share the ERC's vision of helping women
with
Endometriosis--and of someday finding a cure for the disease.
The ERC previously testified before the California State Legislature at the
invitation of Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) on behalf of AB 2820, a
consequential bill calling for independent research into the presence of
dioxin, which has been linked to Endometriosis, in feminine hygiene products
and the subsequent risks this toxin poses to women and their children. AB
2820
was approved by majority vote and passed on to the Senate Committee on Health
&
Human Services.
Currently, the organization is also working with members of Congress to pass
a
National Resolution for Endometriosis Awareness. The National Resolution,
similar to ACR 160, "strongly supports efforts to raise public awareness of
Endometriosis throughout the medical and lay communities, recognizes the need
for better support of patients with Endometriosis, the need for physicians to
better understand the disease, the need for more effective treatments, and
ultimately, the need for a cure."
"With the sponsorship of policymakers like Assemblywoman Bates, Assemblyman
Runner and our other supporters, we can ensure that Endometriosis is no
longer
treated as an insignificant issue," said Marvel. "Patients, physicians and
society at large needs to understand that Endometriosis is a disease which
affects all of us."
For more information, contact:
Michelle E. Marvel, Founder & Executive Director
The Endometriosis Research Center
Email: <A HREF="mailto:EndoFL@aol.com">EndoFL@aol.com</A> | <A HREF="http://www.endocenter.org/">http://www.endocenter.org</A>
FL-03-25-02 1230AM EST
[PLEASE NOTE: This press release may be freely redistributed.]
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