South Carolina General Assembly
124th Session, 2021-2022

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Bill 1374


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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A SENATE RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 2022 AS "CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH" IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO ENCOURAGE ALL SOUTH CAROLINIANS 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, almost one in three hundred children in the United States will be diagnosed with childhood cancer; and

Whereas, forty-seven children per day, or over seventeen thousand children in total, are diagnosed with cancer annually in the United States. Approximately forty thousand children are on active treatment at any given time; and

Whereas, the average age of childhood cancer diagnosis is eight years old. Eighty percent of childhood cancer patients are diagnosed late and with metastatic disease; and

Whereas, on average, there has been an almost one percent increase in incidence per year since the mid 1970s, resulting in an overall incidence increase of forty-one percent over the last forty years; and

Whereas, ninety-five percent of childhood cancer patients will have chronic health conditions as a result of their treatment toxicity, with one third 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, in the last twenty years, the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved only six new drugs to specifically treat childhood cancer; and

Whereas, the National Cancer Institute recognizes the unique research needs of childhood cancer and the associated need for increased funding to carry out this research; and

Whereas, hundreds of non-profit organizations at the local and national level, including the American Childhood Cancer Organization, are helping children with cancer and their families cope, through educational, emotional, and financial support; and

Whereas, researchers and healthcare professionals work diligently, dedicating their expertise to treat and cure children with cancer; and

Whereas, in the great State of South Carolina, important work is being done to improve care for children with cancer and their families. The South Carolina Cancer Plan is a five-year plan which serves as a roadmap to reducing cancer in the state. The latest revision, issued in October 2021, included objectives related to childhood cancer. This inclusion ensured that this issue is now elevated to be a statewide priority for SCDHEC, in addition to the good work already accomplished by the South Carolina Cancer Plan group; 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, recognize September 2022 as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" in South Carolina and encourage all South Carolinians to support this cause that so deeply impacts families in every community across our country.

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