Posted: | March 14, 2024 12:36 PM |
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From: | Senator Lynda Schlegel Culver |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Cancer Action Day in Pennsylvania |
I plan to introduce a resolution designating May 7, 2024 as “Cancer Action Day” in Pennsylvania. Thankfully, the risk of dying from cancer has steadily declined over the last 30 years through early cancer detection and advances in the treatment of cancer and precision medicine. Unfortunately, however, these advances have not benefited everyone equally as evidenced by the American Cancer Society which estimates that in 2024, there will be 2 million new cases of cancer in the United States which is the highest incidence rate the United States has ever seen. Tragically, 600,000 people will lose their battle with cancer in 2024. Comparatively, Pennsylvania’s cancer incidence and mortality rates continue to be higher than the national rates, with a predicted 90,000 Pennsylvanians to face a new cancer diagnosis in 2024 and an estimated 27,570 Pennsylvanians will lose their lives this year to cancer. In Pennsylvania, the five most common new cases of cancer estimated in 2024 include breast cancer at 13,370 cases, prostate cancer at 13,010 cases, lung/bronchus cancer at 11,200 cases, colorectal cancer at 6,550 cases and urinary bladder cancer at 4,290 cases. Of all these new cases it is important to note that many of these cancers are often preventable and early detection and treatment continue to be extremely critical as cancer does not always cause symptoms in the early stages. Please join me in honoring all Pennsylvanians impacted by cancer by co-sponsoring this resolution. |
Introduced as SR275