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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Childhood cancer is on the rise; it is a global
3problem; every two minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer;
4that equals 300,000 children around the world every year;
5childhood cancer and adult cancers are not the same, yet
6treatment options for children continue to rely on downsized
7adult cancer protocols, many times with devastating effects;
8there are 16 major types of childhood cancers and over 100
9different subtypes; the lack of childhood cancer research and
10cures has a tremendous impact on children and places a
11significant cost on society; this will continue until there is
12a monumental increase in funding for research and cures; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Pediatric cancer remains the leading cause of
14death by disease in children and young adolescents; the
15incidence of invasive cancer in children is up 29% in the past
1620 years; even as the five-year survival rate continues to
17improve, the incidence of childhood cancer has been steadily
18increasing over the last few decades; in 80% of children with
19cancer, the cancer has already spread to other areas of the
20body by the time it is diagnosed; this is why children need
21treatment immediately; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Despite the need for childhood cancer awareness,
23financial support has not reached the same national level as

 

 

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1other cancer awareness campaigns, many of which are for adults
2cancers; the Fiscal Year Consolidated Appropriations Act
3included over five billion dollars for the National Cancer
4Institute which is an increase of more than 174 million dollars
5over the fiscal year of 2016; of that over five billion
6dollars, only approximately 3.8% of that is allocated to
7childhood cancer research; nationally, childhood cancer is 20
8times more prevalent than pediatric aids yet pediatric aids
9receives four times the funding that childhood cancer receives;
10and
 
11    WHEREAS, Numerous childhood cancer foundations and
12facilities work on treatments, but since most organizations
13work independently, no singular umbrella of awareness exists to
14unite or elevate awareness or provide a call to action that
15childhood cancer desperately needs and children deserve; and
 
16    WHEREAS, In the last 20 years, only three cancer
17medications have been specifically developed for children; in
1825 years, the FDA has initially approved only two drugs for any
19childhood cancer; half of all chemotherapies used for childhood
20cancers are over 25 years old; the average age for a child with
21cancer is eight years old causing a child to lose 69 years of
22expected life; approximately 20% of all children with cancer
23will die from their disease, a secondary cancer, or
24complications from the treatment within five years of the

 

 

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1diagnosis; more than 400,000 children will undergo treatment
2for cancer each year; every day, 43 children are diagnosed with
3cancer; due to treatments during childhood, by the time the
4child reaches their 30s to 40s more than 95% of childhood
5cancer survivors will have chronic health problems, and 80%
6will have severe or life threatening conditions; and
 
7    WHEREAS, More than 35 states have declared the month of
8September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month; in 2016,
9President Obama proclaimed September as National Childhood
10Cancer Month; and
 
11    WHEREAS, As parents and advocates for children, our calling
12is to protect children, so we are compelled to greatly increase
13the awareness of childhood cancer and its devastation to
14children and their family; through this very awareness we can
15raise the greatly needed funding for research and new cures
16that are better gauged for children; these children need and
17deserve a voice to help them reach a greater survival rate and,
18hopefully someday, a complete cure; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Childhood cancer has an international symbol, the
20Gold Ribbon, and a motto, "Go Gold"; these help increase not
21only awareness, but the support of the public who need to know
22how desperately these children need their help; support will
23also help the child's family not feel alone during this very

 

 

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1desperate time; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare September of
42017 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the State of
5Illinois in honor and memory of all the children that were
6taken too soon by cancer and in recognition of those children
7currently fighting the toughest battle of their lives.