[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 88 (Tuesday, June 28, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S7538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 182--SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO INCREASE CHILDHOOD CANCER 
                   AWARENESS, TREATMENT, AND RESEARCH

  Mr. COLEMAN (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Allen, 
Mrs. Lincoln, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Reed, Mr. Salazar, and Ms. Mikulski) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 182

       Whereas an estimated 12,400 children will be diagnosed with 
     cancer in the year 2005;
       Whereas cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in 
     children under age 15;
       Whereas an estimated 2,300 children will die from cancer in 
     the year 2005;
       Whereas the incidence of cancer among children in the 
     United States is rising by about one percent each year;
       Whereas 1 in every 330 Americans develops cancer before age 
     20;
       Whereas approximately 8 percent of deaths of those between 
     1 and 19 years of age are caused by cancer;
       Whereas while some progress has been made, a number of 
     opportunities for childhood cancer research still remain 
     unfunded or underfunded;
       Whereas limited resources for childhood cancer research can 
     hinder the recruitment of investigators and physicians to 
     pediatric oncology;
       Whereas peer-reviewed clinical trials are the standard of 
     care for pediatrics and have improved cancer survival rates 
     among children;
       Whereas the number of survivors of childhood cancer 
     continues to grow, with about 1 in 640 adults between the 
     ages of 20 and 39 having a history of cancer;
       Whereas up to \2/3\ of childhood cancer survivors are 
     likely to experience at least one late effect from treatment, 
     many of which may be life-threatening;
       Whereas some late effects of cancer treatment are 
     identified early in follow-up and are easily resolved, while 
     others may become chronic problems in adulthood and may have 
     serious consequences; and
       Whereas 89 percent of children with cancer experience 
     substantial suffering in the last month of life: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that Congress 
     should support--
       (1) public and private sector efforts to promote awareness 
     about the incidence of cancer among children, the signs and 
     symptoms of cancer in children, treatment options, and long-
     term follow-up;
       (2) increased public and private investment in childhood 
     cancer research to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment, 
     rehabilitation, post-treatment monitoring, and long-term 
     survival;
       (3) policies that provide incentives to encourage medical 
     trainees and investigators to enter the field of pediatric 
     oncology;
       (4) policies that provide incentives to encourage the 
     development of drugs and biologics designed to treat 
     pediatric cancers;
       (5) policies that encourage participation in clinical 
     trials;
       (6) medical education curricula designed to improve pain 
     management for cancer patients; and
       (7) policies that enhance education, services, and other 
     resources related to late effects from treatment.
  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, over 12,000 children are diagnosed with 
cancer each year and sadly, cancer will claim the lives of over 2,000 
of these children each year. Today, I am proud to be submitting the 
Childhood Cancer Awareness Resolution with my friends Senators 
Lieberman, Brownback, Allen, Lincoln, Landrieu, Salazar, Reed, and 
Mikulski to help raise awareness about childhood cancer and support 
children and their families who are suffering from this terrible 
disease.
  Cancer is the number one disease killer of children. Every day 43 
children will be diagnosed and approximately 10 of those children will 
not survive.
  Until we meet the day when every child can live a life free of 
cancer, we must continue to promote awareness and strengthen our 
investment in childhood cancer research, diagnosis and treatment.
  I urge my fellow colleagues to join me in raisipg awareness of 
childhood cancer by supporting The Childhood Cancer Awareness 
Resolution.

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