HR0858 LRB096 19799 GRL 35242 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Modern medicine has made amazing advances in
3 fighting pediatric cancer; pediatric cancer survivors are
4 faced with a unique set of problems because of these advances;
5 and
 
6     WHEREAS, Cure rates for pediatric cancers have risen
7 dramatically during the past 20 years; it is estimated that one
8 in every 900 people, ages 16 to 44, is a survivor of pediatric
9 cancer; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Today, almost 70% of children that are diagnosed
11 with brain cancer survive treatment; this statistic calls into
12 focus the need to look at a child's quality of life in the
13 years following treatment; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Pediatric cancer survivorship can come with a
15 price in the form of long-term medical, financial,
16 psychosocial, and/or neuro-cognitive problems due to
17 chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery; and
 
18     WHEREAS, The major expenses of a pediatric cancer diagnosis
19 and treatment program are associated with the direct costs of
20 medical care, including charges for hospitalizations, clinic
21 visits, medications, tests and procedures, home health

 

 

HR0858 - 2 - LRB096 19799 GRL 35242 r

1 services, services of doctors and other professionals, and
2 treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy,
3 and bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Even well-insured, middle-class families with
5 health insurance can find themselves in financial distress
6 because of a single catastrophic illness; even when insurance
7 doesn't run out, health care costs can be staggering for the
8 families of children with cancer; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The State of Illinois recognizes that amazing
10 advances have been made in the treatment of pediatric cancer
11 and survivor rates; therefore, be it
 
12     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
13 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
14 designate the week of March 21-27, 2010 as Pediatric Cancer
15 Survivorship Week in the State of Illinois and urge the
16 citizens of this State to show their support for those who have
17 survived pediatric cancer.