Posted: | July 22, 2020 03:17 PM |
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From: | Representative Kerry A. Benninghoff |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | September 2020 Childhood Cancer Awareness Month |
In the very near future, I will be re-introducing my annual resolution to designate September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, childhood cancers make up less than 1% of all cancers diagnosed each year. Over 11,000 new cases will be diagnosed in children under the age of 15 in the United States. Childhood cancer rates have been slightly increasing for the past few decades. Because of major treatment advances in recent decades, 84% of children with cancer now survive 5 years or more. Overall, this is a huge increase since the mid-1970s when the 5-year survival rate was about 58%. Still, survival rates vary depending on the type of cancer and other factors. Although pediatric cancer death rates have decreased by nearly 70 percent over the past four decades, it still remains the second leading cause of death behind accidents among children. Over 1,100 children are expected to die from cancer in 2020. This resolution will encourage those children still in the fight, honor the young people who have tragically lost their lives to cancer, and thank the medical personnel for their care and commitment. I encourage all to join the fight against childhood cancer. I thank you for your continued support. |
Introduced as HR962