Pennsylvania SR 140: A Resolution designating the month of September 2025 as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1129
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 140
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MARTIN, BROWN, SCHWANK, LAUGHLIN, PHILLIPS-HILL,
ROBINSON, MASTRIANO, ARGALL, BOSCOLA, TARTAGLIONE, CULVER,
BROOKS, FONTANA, J. WARD, CAPPELLETTI, MALONE, HUGHES,
COMITTA, KANE, HUTCHINSON, HAYWOOD AND VOGEL,
SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2025 as "Childhood Cancer
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Childhood cancer is the second leading cause of
death in children under 15 years of age, exceeded only by car
accidents; and
WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that
approximately 9,550 children in the United States under 15 years
of age will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025, continuing the
trend of year-over-year decreases with the figure standing at
9,610 in 2024; and
WHEREAS, According to the American Cancer Society,
approximately 1,050 children (age 0 to 14) are expected to die
from cancer in 2025; and
WHEREAS, In August 2024, the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost
Containment Council (PHC4) published a research brief providing
insight into hospitalization rates and trends among Pennsylvania
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children from 2016 through 2023; and
WHEREAS, According to PHC4, hospitalizations due to a
pediatric cancer diagnosis ranged from a high of 3,051
hospitalizations in 2019 and a low of 2,555 hospitalizations in
2022; and
WHEREAS, Leukemia, secondary cancers (metastatic) and cancers
involving bone, connective tissue and skin, respectively, were
the three most prevalent amongst those hospitalized; and
WHEREAS, The potential years of life lost to childhood cancer
and the potential years of life saved by treatment exceed all
other cancers with the exception of breast cancer; and
WHEREAS, Most children cannot be treated at a local hospital
and families must face the disruption of relocating to receive
treatment at a regional cancer center; and
WHEREAS, As a result of major treatment advances in recent
decades, more than 85% of children with cancer now survive five
years or more; and
WHEREAS, The survival rate of children with cancer has
significantly increased since the mid-1970s, when the five-year
survival rate was approximately 58%; and
WHEREAS, Survival rates vary depending on the type of cancer
and other factors; and
WHEREAS, Due to children's bodies still growing and cancer
treatments largely geared toward use on adults, children are
more likely to experience long-term side effects from treatment;
and
WHEREAS, Possible late effects of cancer treatments include,
but are not limited to, heart or lung problems, slowed or
delayed development, changes in sexual development and the
ability to have children, learning disabilities and increased
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risk of secondary forms of cancer; and
WHEREAS, Childhood cancer treatment is handled by a team of
pediatric oncologists, pediatric surgeons, radiation
oncologists, pediatric oncology nurses, nurse practitioners and
physician assistants; and
WHEREAS, Other members of the team of health professionals
aiding in the health and well-being of childhood cancer patients
include, but are not limited to, psychologists, social workers,
child life specialists, nutritionists, rehabilitation and
physical therapists and educators; and
WHEREAS, Some of the most important members of a pediatric
cancer patient's team are experienced parents who navigate and
advocate on behalf of their children; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is a leader in the fight against
and treatment of childhood cancer with seven Children's Oncology
Group hospitals: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Penn State
Health Children's Hospital, UPMC Children's Hospital of
Pittsburgh, Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center, Geisinger
Medical Center's Janet Weis Children's Hospital, Tower Health's
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and Lehigh Valley's
Reilly Children's Hospital; and
WHEREAS, Several of the institutions participate in national
consortiums committed to bringing clinicians, scientists,
philanthropy and families together to enhance and facilitate
trial development to advance pediatric cancer treatments and
long-term care; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has invested in telepresence
educational equipment that childhood cancer patients utilize to
allow for greater remote learning opportunities during long
absences and to increase access to needed social supports; and
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WHEREAS, Act 39 of 2017 allowed for donations to the
Pediatric Cancer Research Fund (PCRF) to be used for pediatric
cancer research funded by reductions in personal income tax
refunds; and
WHEREAS, Act 73 of 2018 allowed for an additional funding
stream for the PCRF via electronic driver's licens