WHEREAS,  over 600,000 persons in the United States have Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition that increases the risk of colon cancer and other cancers, but fewer than 5% of those persons are currently diagnosed; and

WHEREAS,  Lynch syndrome is a hereditary predisposition presenting a high lifetime risk of contracting a variety of cancers, including up to an 85% lifetime risk of colon cancer and a 65% lifetime risk of endometrial cancer; and

WHEREAS,  Lynch syndrome presents higher-than-average risks of contracting ovarian cancer, gastric tract cancers, hepatobiliary cancers, renal pelvic cancers, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, brain cancer and other cancers, often at an early age; and

WHEREAS,  knowing one's family medical history of cancers may prompt genetic testing; and

WHEREAS,  a positive genetic test will qualify most people for annual cancer screening and cancers may be detected early and treated or removed, often before becoming life-threatening; and

WHEREAS,  the numbers of cancer deaths may be reduced as a result of public awareness of Lynch syndrome; and

WHEREAS,  thousands of lives in Maine may be saved as the result of timely diagnoses of Lynch syndrome; now, therefore, be it