DESIGNATING APRIL 2026 AS “ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT CANCER AWARENESS MONTH” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Griffith & Sen. Cruce

Reps. Berry, Bolden, Burns, Bush, Carson, Cooke, Hilovsky, K. Johnson, Lambert, Morrison, Osienski, Kamela Smith, Snyder-Hall, Yearick, S. Moore, Harris; Sens. Hansen, Hoffner, Huxtable, Lockman, Pettyjohn, Pinkney, Sokola, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 114

DESIGNATING APRIL 2026 AS “ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT CANCER AWARENESS MONTH” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA), defined as individuals ages 15 to 39, represent a distinct oncology population with unique biological, clinical, and psychosocial needs; and

WHEREAS, in 2025, according to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 85,480 adolescents and young adults in the United States were diagnosed with cancer, representing approximately 4.2 percent of all new cancer cases; and

WHEREAS, cancer is the leading disease-related cause of death among adolescents and young adults according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention; and

WHEREAS, while the overall five-year survival rate for AYA cancer patients is approximately 86 percent, significant disparities persist in survival outcomes when compared to both pediatric and older adult populations for certain cancer types; and

WHEREAS, AYA patients often experience delays in diagnosis, limited access to age-appropriate clinical trials, and gaps in coordinated, specialized care tailored to their stage of life; and

WHEREAS, according to the Delaware Cancer Registry, 2,303 cancer cases were diagnosed among individuals aged 15 to 39 years in Delaware from 2012 to 2021; and

WHEREAS, according to the Delaware Cancer Registry, for Delaware and the United States, the most common cancer types in this Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) age group are breast cancer, thyroid cancer, melanoma, and testicular cancer; and

WHEREAS, according to the Delaware Cancer Registry, the ten-year age-adjusted all-site AYA cancer incidence rates were 79.4 cases per 100,000 population in Delaware and 75.5 cases per 100,000 population the United States for 2012-2021; and

WHEREAS, according to the Delaware Cancer Registry, cancer is the leading disease-related cause of AYA deaths and resulted in 226 deaths in Delaware between 2012 and 2021; and

WHEREAS, according to the Delaware Cancer Registry, the ten-year age-adjusted all-site AYA cancer mortality rates were 7.9 deaths per 100,000 population in Delaware and 8.8 deaths per 100,000 population in the United States for 2012-2021; and

WHEREAS, according to the Delaware Cancer Registry, females in Delaware have higher rates of AYA cancer incidence and cancer mortality compared to males; and

WHEREAS, according to the Delaware Cancer Registry, between 2007 and 2021, AYA cancer mortality rates in Delaware remained stable and decreased in the United States by an average of 1.0% per year; and

WHEREAS, while mortality rates among AYA cancer patients in the United States have declined by an average of 1.0 percent per year between 2007 and 2021, mortality rates in Delaware have remained stable over the same period, underscoring the need for targeted interventions and investment; and

WHEREAS, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month provides an opportunity to elevate awareness, promote early detection, improve access to care, and support research efforts aimed at closing outcome gaps for this population.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that April 2026 is recognized as “Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month” to increase awareness of the unique challenges faced by adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the General Assembly supports policies and investments that expand access to age-appropriate cancer care, improve participation in clinical trials, and address disparities in outcomes across populations and geographic regions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the General Assembly encourages collaboration among healthcare providers, researchers, policymakers, and community organizations to improve early detection, treatment, and survivorship care for AYA patients.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the General Assembly honors the courage of adolescents and young adults facing cancer, recognizes survivors, and remembers those who have lost their lives to this disease.

SYNOPSIS

This House Concurrent Resolution recognizes the month of April 2026 as “Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month” in the State of Delaware.