PRINTER'S NO. 1182
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
196
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY WAGNER, BROOKS, DINNIMAN, MARTIN, BARTOLOTTA,
EICHELBERGER, FARNESE, ARGALL, FONTANA, GREENLEAF,
RESCHENTHALER, LANGERHOLC, BREWSTER, SCAVELLO, SABATINA,
AUMENT, RAFFERTY, COSTA, FOLMER, YAW AND HUGHES,
SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2017 as "Childhood Cancer
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania, encouraging young
Pennsylvanians who are fighting cancer, honoring 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 residents in this Commonwealth to join the
fight against childhood cancer.
WHEREAS, Childhood cancers make up less than 1% of all
cancers diagnosed each year and childhood cancer rates have been
rising slightly for the past few decades; and
WHEREAS, Childhood cancer is the second leading cause of
death in children under 15 years of age, exceeded only by
accidents, and approximately 1,190 children are expected to die
from cancer in 2017; and
WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that
approximately 10,270 children in the United States under 15
years of age will be diagnosed with cancer in 2017; and
WHEREAS, The potential years of life lost to childhood cancer
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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 relocating to receive
treatment at a regional cancer center; and
WHEREAS, As a result of major treatment advances in recent
decades, more than 80% of children with cancer now survive five
years or more; and
WHEREAS, This is a huge increase since the mid-1970s, when
the five-year survival rate was less than 60%; and
WHEREAS, Survival rates vary depending on the type of cancer
and other factors; and
WHEREAS, There is still significant progress that must be
made with regard to childhood cancer treatment because there are
many types of childhood cancer and some types with lower
survival rates are 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, 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 10 institutions in the Pediatric Brain
Tumor Consortium are in Pennsylvania: Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital is one of
only 11 institutions nationwide in the Pediatric Oncology
Experimental Therapeutic Investigators' Consortium; therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of September
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2017 as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage young Pennsylvanians who
are fighting cancer, honor 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 residents in this
Commonwealth to join the fight against childhood cancer.
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