THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY BENNINGHOFF, MURPHY, BAKER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BOYD, BROOKS, R. BROWN, BROWNLEE, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, D. COSTA, COX, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DAVIS, DELOZIER, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, EVERETT, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GROVE, HARHART, HELM, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, M. K. KELLER, KIRKLAND, KNOWLES, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MACKENZIE, MAJOR, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MATZIE, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MIRABITO, MOUL, MYERS, OBERLANDER, PICKETT, PYLE, RAVENSTAHL, READSHAW, ROAE, ROCK, ROSS, SANTARSIERO, SAYLOR, CULVER, M. SMITH, SONNEY, STERN, SWANGER, TOEPEL, VEREB, WATERS, WATSON, O'NEILL, STABACK AND HAHN, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of September 2012 as "Childhood Cancer

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania, honoring those young people

who have lost their lives to childhood cancer, expressing

gratitude to the doctors and nurses who provide special care

to patients and families affected by childhood cancer, and

encouraging all citizens to join the fight against childhood

cancer in this Commonwealth.

WHEREAS, Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of

children in the United States, killing more children between the

ages of one and twenty than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis

and AIDS combined, and is the second leading cause of death

during childhood, exceeded only by accidents; and 

WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that 12,060

children under 15 years of age will be diagnosed with cancer

this year and roughly 1,340 will lose their battle against the

disease; and

WHEREAS, The potential years of life lost to childhood cancer

and the potential years of life saved by treatment exceed all

other cancers with the exception of breast cancer; and

WHEREAS, Most children cannot be treated at a local hospital,

and families must face the disruption of moving for treatment at

a regional cancer center; and

WHEREAS, Childhood cancer treatment has been called the

modern miracle because five-year relative survival has improved

markedly over the past 30 years to approximately 80%; and 

WHEREAS, There is significant progress that still must be

made with regard to childhood cancer treatment, because there

are many types of childhood cancer, and some varieties with

lower survival rates are still very difficult to treat; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is a leader in the fight against and

treatment of childhood cancer with six Children's Oncology Group

hospitals, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, The

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Geisinger Medical Center,

Lehigh Valley Hospital - Muhlenburg, Hershey Medical Center and

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; and

WHEREAS, Two of only ten institutions in the Pediatric Brain

Tumor Consortium are in Pennsylvania, The Children's Hospital of

Philadelphia and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; and Penn

State Hershey Children's Hospital is one of only 11 institutions

nationwide in the Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutic

Consortium; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of September 2012 as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" in

Pennsylvania; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor those young

people who have lost their lives to childhood cancer, express

gratitude to the doctors and nurses who provide special care to

patients and families affected by childhood cancer, and

encourage all citizens to join the fight against childhood

cancer in this Commonwealth.