A RESOLUTION

 

1Recognizing July 2014 as "National Sarcoma Awareness Month" in
2Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Sarcoma is a cancer of connective tissues, such as
4nerves, muscles, joints, fat, bones and blood vessels, and it
5can arise anywhere in the body; and

6WHEREAS, According to the National Cancer Institute, more
7than 13,000 new cases of soft tissue and bone sarcoma are
8diagnosed each year in the United States, and approximately
94,400 and 1,400 people die from soft tissue and bone sarcoma,
10respectively, each year; and

11WHEREAS, According to the National Cancer Institute, the
12five-year relative survival rate for bone and soft tissue
13sarcoma is approximately 66%; and

14WHEREAS, There are two main types of sarcoma, bone sarcomas

1and soft tissue sarcomas which are further subclassified based
2on the type of presumed cell of origin found in the tumor; and

3WHEREAS, More than 50 subtypes of sarcomas have been
4identified; and

5WHEREAS, Sarcomas can develop in children and adults, and
6slightly more men than women develop soft tissue sarcoma; and

7WHEREAS, One percent of the cancers diagnosed in adults and
815% of cancers diagnosed in children each year are sarcomas; and

9WHEREAS, Because sarcomas are more common in adolescents and
10young adults than most other cancers, the number of years of
11life lost to sarcomas is substantial, despite their relatively
12low incidence; and

13WHEREAS, Sarcomas can be difficult to distinguish from other
14malignancies when they are found within organs, thus their
15incident is probably underestimated; and

16WHEREAS, Early on, soft tissue sarcoma rarely causes any
17symptoms, and because soft tissue is very elastic, the tumors
18can grow quite large before they are felt; and

19WHEREAS, As the tumor grows and begins to press against the
20nerves and muscles, pain and soreness can occur; and

21WHEREAS, No modifiable risk factors for sarcoma have been
22identified; and

23WHEREAS, It is not clear why some people develop sarcoma,
24however, researchers have been able to identify some common
25characteristics in groups with a high rate of soft tissue
26sarcoma; and

27WHEREAS, Studies have shown that people exposed to
28phenoxyacetic acid in herbicides and clorphenols in wood
29preservative have increased risk of soft tissue sarcoma; and

30WHEREAS, The standard treatments for soft tissue sarcoma

1include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy; and

2WHEREAS, Patients with bone sarcoma and uterine sarcoma may
3receive samarium and hormone therapy, respectively; and

4WHEREAS, The National Cancer Institute recognizes that
5sarcoma is often misdiagnosed and under-reported; and

6WHEREAS, For this reason, the National Cancer Institute, the
7Sarcoma Alliance, the Sarcoma Foundation of America and other
8organizations are working to promote sarcoma awareness and
9support programs to improve education, knowledge, research and
10treatment of the condition; and

11WHEREAS, Continued coordination and cooperation among
12researchers, families and the public is needed to improve
13prognoses for people who battle sarcoma; therefore be it

14RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize July
152014 as "National Sarcoma Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and
16urge the residents of this Commonwealth to support the efforts,
17programs, services and organizations that work to enhance
18research and awareness of sarcoma.