PRINTER'S NO. 1182
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
201
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY MARTIN, LANGERHOLC, ARGALL, PHILLIPS-HILL,
J. WARD, VOGEL, BARTOLOTTA, FONTANA, REGAN, AUMENT, FARNESE,
COLLETT, BREWSTER, KILLION, BROOKS, MASTRIANO, DINNIMAN,
BLAKE, SCHWANK, MENSCH, STREET, K. WARD, BROWNE, TARTAGLIONE,
COSTA, HUGHES AND YUDICHAK, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2019 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, Since 1975, childhood cancer rates have risen by
0.7%; 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 2019; and
WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that
approximately 11,060 children in the United States under 15
years of age will be diagnosed with cancer in 2019; and
WHEREAS, The potential years of life lost to childhood cancer
and the potential years of life saved by treatment exceed all
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
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 significant 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-Cedar Crest, Penn State Health Children's
Hospital and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, Two of only sixteen institutions in the Pediatric
Brain Tumor Consortium are in Pennsylvania: Children's Hospital
of Philadelphia and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, Penn State Health Children's Hospital is one of only
ten institutions nationwide in the Pediatric Oncology
Experimental Therapeutic Investigators' Consortium; therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of September
2019 as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and
20190SR0201PN1182 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
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.
20190SR0201PN1182 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7