A resolution supporting efforts to increase childhood cancer awareness, treatment, and research.

Calls for Congress to support: (1) efforts to promote awareness of cancer in children; (2) increased investment in childhood cancer research; (3) incentives to encourage medical trainees and investigators to enter the field of pediatric oncology; (4) 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) enhanced education, services, and other resources related to late effects from treatment.

[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 182 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 182

 Supporting efforts to increase childhood cancer awareness, treatment, 
                             and research.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 28, 2005

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting efforts to increase childhood cancer awareness, treatment, 
                             and research.

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.
                                 <all>