A concurrent RESOLUTION

to hereby proclaim September 2024 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the State of South Carolina and to encourage all South Carolinians to support research for the cure of childhood cancer and treatment of children diagnosed with childhood cancer and to support their families who are all so deeply impacted.

Whereas, childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children; and

Whereas, one in two hundred eighty-five children in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer by their twentieth birthday, and

Whereas, forty-six children per day or sixteen thousand seven hundred ninety children per year are diagnosed with cancer in the United States; and

Whereas, the average age of diagnosis of childhood cancer is six years old; and

Whereas, eighty percent of childhood cancer patients are diagnosed late and with metastatic disease; and

Whereas, on average there has been a 0.6 percent increase in incidence per year since the mid 1970s, resulting in an overall incidence increase of twenty-four percent over the last forty years; and

Whereas, two-thirds of childhood cancer patients will have chronic health conditions as a result of their treatment toxicity, with one quarter being classified as severe to life-threatening; and

Whereas, approximately one half of childhood cancer families rate the associated financial toxicity due to out-of-pocket expenses as considerable to severe; and

Whereas, in the last thirty years only six new drugs have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to specifically treat childhood cancer; and

Whereas, the National Cancer Institute recognizes the unique research needs of childhood cancer and the associated need for increased funding to carry this out; and

Whereas, hundreds of non-profit organizations at the local and national level, including the American Childhood Cancer Organization, are helping children with cancer and their families cope through educational, emotional, and financial support; and

Whereas, researchers and healthcare professionals work diligently, dedicating their expertise to treat and cure children with cancer; and

Whereas, too many children are affected by this deadly disease and more must be done to raise awareness and find a cure. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, do hereby proclaim September 2024 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the State of South Carolina and encourage all South Carolinians to support research for the cure of childhood cancer and treatment of children diagnosed with childhood cancer and to support their families who are all so deeply impacted.

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