HR0078 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0078 LRB103 30968 LAW 57552 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, A cancer survivor is defined as anyone living with a history of cancer, from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life, and there are more than 18 million cancer survivors in the United States; and

WHEREAS, National Cancer Survivors Day is an annual, treasured celebration of life that is held across the United States on the first Sunday in June; on this day, people come together to commemorate cancer survivors; the day further serves to remind us all that cancer is a disease without boundaries, crossing the lines of color, race, creed, sex, and age, which affects not only the lives of those inflicted with the disease but their loved ones as well; and

WHEREAS, On National Cancer Survivors Day, thousands gather to honor cancer survivors and to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be fruitful, rewarding, and inspiring; this day also provides an opportunity to draw attention to the ongoing challenges of cancer survivorship and promote the need for more resources, research, and survivor-friendly legislation to improve cancer survivors' quality of life; and

WHEREAS, National Cancer Survivors Day further allows cancer survivors the opportunity to recognize the people who have helped them through their journey in addressing and fighting cancer, including family members, friends, and medical professionals; and

WHEREAS, Due to advances in cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and follow-up care, more people than ever before are surviving the disease; in the United States alone, more than 18 million people are alive today after being diagnosed with cancer, and the number of cancer survivors is projected to increase to over 22 million by 2030; and

WHEREAS, Nonetheless, surviving cancer can leave a host of problems in its wake, including physical, emotional, and financial hardships that often persist for years after diagnosis and treatment; cancer survivors are also at a greater risk for developing second cancers and other health conditions; and

WHEREAS, Cancer survivors may face numerous challenges during and after treatment, including limited access to cancer specialists and promising new treatments, difficulty accessing health insurance and life insurance coverage, difficulty finding jobs, and economic burdens due to mounting medical expenses, lost wages, and lost productivity; and

WHEREAS, In addition to these challenges, cancer survivors may face emotional struggles, strains on personal relationships, and profound fear of cancer recurrence; the effects of cancer do not simply end when treatment does; and

WHEREAS, A continued focus on providing resources, performing research, and adopting survivor-friendly legislation is needed to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors, both during and after treatment; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare June 4, 2023 as Cancer Survivors Day in the State of Illinois in order to recognize and celebrate the valuable, dynamic population of cancer survivors in Illinois.