PRINTER'S NO. 4583
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
1079
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY GREEN, MILLARD, MURT, LONGIETTI, SCHLEGEL CULVER,
WILLIAMS, GALLOWAY, WARREN, COX AND DRISCOLL,
OCTOBER 22, 2020
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
OCTOBER 22, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Designating November 30, 2020, as "Cancer of Unknown Primary
Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Cancer can develop anywhere in the body, and the
organ or part of the body where cancer begins is known as the
primary site; and
WHEREAS, Cancer, including cancer that metastasizes, or
spreads, to form new tumors elsewhere in the body is named after
the primary site; and
WHEREAS, Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) occurs when cancer
cells have spread in the body and form metastatic tumors, yet
the site of the primary cancer is not known; and
WHEREAS, Also called occult primary cancer, CUP is most
commonly found in the lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bones or skin;
and
WHEREAS, An individual may be diagnosed with CUP if the
original tumor is too small to be identified with imaging tests
or if the cancer is in many parts of the body and it is unclear
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which location is the primary site; and
WHEREAS, For most people with CUP, a primary site of cancer
is not identified, and teams of oncology and health care
professionals identify features of each individual tumor to
determine the best care plan; and
WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that
approximately 30,270 cases of CUP will be diagnosed in 2020 in
the United States; and
WHEREAS, Signs and symptoms of CUP depend on what part of the
body is involved and can include lumps that can be felt through
the skin, pain, changes in bowel habits, such as new and
persistent constipation or diarrhea, frequent urination, cough,
fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss; and
WHEREAS, The risk of CUP may be related to older age and a
family history of cancer; and
WHEREAS, Worldwide, CUP remains the sixth to eighth most
common cancer and the third to fourth most common cause of
cancer-related deaths; and
WHEREAS, Epidemiological studies reveal that the median age
of CUP diagnosis is approximately 60 years with no significant
difference in incidents between the sexes; and
WHEREAS, About 80% to 85% of patients diagnosed with CUP are
impacted by an aggressive form of the disease with an
unpredictable pattern of metastatic spread resistant to standard
chemotherapy, leading to a reduced survival rate of 5 to 11
months on average; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that all Pennsylvania health care
professionals, patients and cancer research centers foster
greater awareness for cancers of unknown primary sites;
therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
November 30, 2020, as "Cancer of Unknown Primary Day" in
Pennsylvania.
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