[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 537 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 537

   Designating May 2010 as ``National Brain Tumor Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 24, 2010

    Ms. Collins (for herself and Mr. Casey) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Designating May 2010 as ``National Brain Tumor Awareness Month''.

Whereas 62,000 Americans are diagnosed with a primary brain tumor each year and 
        150,000 more are diagnosed with a metastatic brain tumor that results 
        from cancer spreading from another part of the body to the brain;
Whereas brain tumors are the leading cause of death from solid tumors in 
        children under the age of 20 and are the third leading cause of death 
        from cancer in young adults ages between the ages of 20 and 39;
Whereas brain tumors may be malignant or benign, but can be life-threatening in 
        either case;
Whereas 612,000 Americans have been diagnosed and are living with a brain tumor;
Whereas the treatment of brain tumors is complicated by the fact that more than 
        120 different types of brain tumors exist;
Whereas the treatment of brain tumors presents significant challenges because 
        of--

    (1) the location of brain tumors in an enclosed bony canal;

    (2) the difficulty of delivering treatment across the blood-brain 
barrier;

    (3) the obstacles to complete surgical removal of the tumors; and

    (4) the serious edema that results when the blood-brain barrier is 
disrupted;

Whereas brain tumors have been described as a disease that affects the essence 
        of ``self'';
Whereas brain tumor research is supported by a number of private nonprofit 
        research foundations and by institutes at the National Institutes of 
        Health, including the National Cancer Institute and the National 
        Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke;
Whereas important advances have been made in understanding brain tumors, 
        including the genetic characterization of glioblastoma multiforme, 1 of 
        the deadliest forms of brain tumor;
Whereas advances in basic research may fuel the research and development of new 
        treatments;
Whereas daunting obstacles still remain to the development of new treatments, 
        and no strategies for the screening or early detection of brain tumors 
        exist;
Whereas a need for greater public awareness of brain tumors exists, including 
        awareness of the difficulties associated with research on brain tumors 
        and the opportunities for advances in brain tumor research and 
        treatment; and
Whereas May, when brain tumor advocates nationwide unite in awareness, outreach, 
        and advocacy activities, would be an appropriate month to recognize as 
        National Brain Tumor Awareness Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates May 2010 as ``National Brain Tumor Awareness 
        Month'';
            (2) encourages increased awareness of brain tumors to honor 
        those individuals who have lost their lives to brain tumors, as 
        well as those individuals who are living with brain tumors;
            (3) supports efforts to develop better treatments for brain 
        tumors that will improve the quality of life and their long-
        term prognosis of those individuals diagnosed with a brain 
        tumor;
            (4) expresses the support of the Senate for those 
        individuals who are battling brain tumors, as well as the 
        families, friends, and caregivers of those individuals; and
            (5) urges a collaborative public-private approach to brain 
        tumor research as the best means of advancing basic knowledge 
        of, and treatments for, brain tumors.
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