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TO ENCOURAGE ALL AMERICANS TO OBSERVE CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN SEPTEMBER 2020 AND TO SUPPORT THIS CAUSE THAT SO DEEPLY IMPACTS FAMILIES IN EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
Whereas, childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children; and
Whereas, 43 children per day, or 15,780 children annually, are diagnosed with cancer in the United States; and
Whereas, on average since the mid-1970s, the incidence per year has increased by 0.6 percent, resulting in an overall incidence increase of twenty-four percent over the last forty years; and
Whereas, 1 in 285 children in the United States will be diagnosed by his or her twentieth birthday; and
Whereas, the average age of diagnosis is six years old, compared to sixty-six for adult cancer diagnosis; and
Whereas, eighty percent of childhood cancer patients are diagnosed late and with metastatic disease; and
Whereas, two-thirds of childhood cancer patients will have chronic health conditions as a result of treatment toxicity, with one-quarter of these conditions being classified as severe to life-threatening; and
Whereas, approximately one-half of childhood cancer families rate the associated financial toxicity, due to out-of-pocket expenses, as considerable to severe; and
Whereas, at any given time, approximately 40,000 children are on active treatment; and
Whereas, in the last twenty years, only four new drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration that specifically treat childhood cancer; and
Whereas, the National Cancer Institute recognizes the unique research needs related to childhood cancer and the associated need for increased funding to carry out this research; and
Whereas, researchers and healthcare professionals use their expertise to work diligently on treating and curing children with cancer; and
Whereas, hundreds of non-profit organizations at the local and national level, including the American Childhood Cancer Organization, are dedicated to helping children with cancer and their families cope by providing educational, emotional, and financial support; and
Whereas, too many children are affected by this deadly disease, and more must be done to raise awareness and find a cure. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, encourage all Americans to observe Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September 2020 and to support this cause that so deeply impacts families in every community across our country.
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