[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 109 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S4743]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 561--DESIGNATING JULY 15, 2018, AS ``NATIONAL 
LEIOMYOSARCOMA AWARENESS DAY'' AND THE MONTH OF JULY 2018 AS ``NATIONAL 
                       SARCOMA AWARENESS MONTH''

  Ms. STABENOW submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 561

       Whereas sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that arises in the 
     connective tissue of the body and accounts for approximately 
     1 percent of all newly diagnosed cancers;
       Whereas the National Institutes of Health designates 
     sarcoma as a rare form of cancer, and sarcoma contains 
     approximately 70 different subtypes;
       Whereas sarcomas are largely resistant to current 
     chemotherapy agents, immunotherapy agents, and radiation 
     therapies, posing a formidable challenge for researchers and 
     specialists;
       Whereas sarcoma subtypes largely have not benefitted from 
     immunotherapies because of the complexity of the DNA, 
     genomes, and mutations associated with the many variations in 
     the sarcoma subtype landscape;
       Whereas leiomyosarcoma (referred to in this preamble as 
     ``LMS'') is a malignant, aggressive subtype of sarcoma 
     derived from smooth muscle cells typically of uterine, 
     gastrointestinal, or soft tissue origin, and can metastasize 
     to the bone, spine, brain, and liver;
       Whereas the National Institutes of Health classifies LMS as 
     a rare disease, accounting for approximately 15 percent of 
     all sarcomas, and LMS itself encompasses at least 4 different 
     LMS subtypes;
       Whereas LMS primarily affects adults without regard to 
     gender, research and clinical trials remain complicated, and 
     survival and longevity remain difficult;
       Whereas multidisciplinary care coordination teams, because 
     of their expertise and experience, are critical to the health 
     of sarcoma and LMS patients;
       Whereas sarcoma and LMS research will allow medical 
     professionals to improve the quality of care for affected 
     patients, lead to better clinical outcomes, and promote 
     longer survival for patients; and
       Whereas increased education and awareness about sarcoma and 
     LMS will contribute to the well-being of the communities of 
     the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates July 15, 2018, as ``National Leiomyosarcoma 
     Awareness Day'';
       (2) designates the month of July 2018 as ``National Sarcoma 
     Awareness Month'';
       (3) recognizes the challenges faced by sarcoma and 
     leiomyosarcoma patients; and
       (4) commends the dedication of organizations, volunteers, 
     researchers, and caregivers across the country working to 
     improve the quality of life of sarcoma and Leiomyosarcoma 
     patients and their families.

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