THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY BRIGGS, McILVAINE SMITH, LENTZ, ADOLPH, BEAR, BELFANTI, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BROOKS, BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN, D. COSTA, DELOZIER, DeLUCA, DERMODY, DeWEESE, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FARRY, FLECK, FREEMAN, GABLER, GEIST, GIBBONS, GODSHALL, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HESS, HORNAMAN, HOUGHTON, KESSLER, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN, MARKOSEK, McCALL, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MENSCH, MILLARD, MILNE, MIRABITO, MOUL, MUNDY, OBERLANDER, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PAYTON, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, ROHRER, ROSS, SABATINA, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SHAPIRO, SIPTROTH, SONNEY, SWANGER, TALLMAN, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, WHITE AND YOUNGBLOOD, AUGUST 13, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, AUGUST 13, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of September 2009 as "Childhood Cancer

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, When a child receives a diagnosis of cancer and

begins treatment, this begins one of the most frightening and

stressful experiences the child's parents can endure; and

WHEREAS, Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease

among children and is second only to accidents as a cause of

death for children; and

WHEREAS, This year in the United States, more than 10,000

children less than 15 years of age will be diagnosed with cancer

and, tragically, 1,500 of these will most likely die; and

WHEREAS, The loss of life of just one innocent child due to

cancer is one too many, and is a tragic event that is more than

most parents can bear; and

WHEREAS, Genetics can play a part in the development of

cancer in children, however, many of the causes and risk factors

of childhood cancer are not known; and

WHEREAS, Children can suffer from numerous types of cancer,

including Acute Lymphomatic Leukemia, bone cancer, brain cancer,

Ewing's Sarcoma, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma,

Neuroblastoma, Osteosarcoma, Retinoblastoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma

and Wilms' Tumor; and

WHEREAS, Children tend to develop different types of cancer

than adults, and survival rates vary considerably depending on

the cancer type involved; and

WHEREAS, New and improved treatments, and significant patient

participation in clinical trials, have led to substantial

progress in pediatric cancer survival rates; and

WHEREAS, In recent decades, the five-year relative survival

rate for all childhood cancers combined has greatly improved,

having increased from approximately 50% prior to the 1970s to

80% today; and

WHEREAS, Although great strides have been made in the search

for childhood cancer cures, more research is needed to

completely eliminate this potentially deadly disease in all of

its varied forms; and

WHEREAS, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is a national event

observed in September of each year by concerned citizens and

public interest groups across the United States toward achieving

this goal; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of September 2009 as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" in

Pennsylvania, and encourage all citizens of this Commonwealth to

support the fight to eliminate childhood cancer by participating

in scheduled events and contributing to research programs

designed to find cures for pediatric cancers.