South Carolina General Assembly
124th Session, 2021-2022

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Bill 804


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A SENATE RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 2021 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, one in 285 children in the United States will be diagnosed with childhood cancer by his or her twentieth birthday; and

Whereas, forty-three children per day, or 15,780 children in total, are diagnosed with cancer annually in the United States; and

Whereas, approximately 40,000 children are on active treatment at any given time; and

Whereas, the average age of childhood cancer diagnosis is six years old, compared to sixty-six for adults' cancer diagnosis; and

Whereas, eighty percent of childhood cancer patients are diagnosed late and with metastatic disease; and

Whereas, on average, there's been a 0.6 percent increase in incidence per year since the mid 1970s, resulting in an overall incidence increase of twenty-four percent over the last forty years; and

Whereas, two-thirds of childhood cancer patients will have chronic health conditions as a result of their treatment toxicity, with one-quarter 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 four 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, 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 2021 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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