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PRINTER'S NO. 1902
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 256
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BENNINGHOFF, BASHLINE, CAUSER, CONKLIN, CUTLER,
GALLAGHER, GAYDOS, GUENST, HOHENSTEIN, KAUFFMAN, KULIK,
MARCELL, McNEILL, MERSKI, MOUL, NEILSON, PICKETT, RAPP, ROWE,
STENDER, VENKAT, VITALI, WARREN AND WAXMAN, JUNE 10, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, JUNE 11, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2025 as "Childhood Cancer
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that
approximately 9,550 children in the United States under 15 years
of age will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025; and
WHEREAS, Childhood cancer is the second leading cause of
death in children under 15 years of age, exceeded only by
accidents, and more than 1,000 children are expected to die from
cancer in 2025; and
WHEREAS, One in 285 children in the United States will be
diagnosed with cancer by their 20th birthday; and
WHEREAS, The potential years of life lost to childhood cancer
and the potential years of life saved by treatment exceed all
other cancers with the exception of breast cancer; and
WHEREAS, Most children cannot be treated at a local hospital
and families must face the disruption of relocating to receive
treatment at a regional cancer center; and
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WHEREAS, As a result of major treatment advances in recent
decades, approximately 85% of children with cancer now survive
for five years or more; and
WHEREAS, This is a significant increase since the mid-1970s,
when the five-year survival rate was approximately 58%; and
WHEREAS, Survival rates vary depending on the type of cancer
and other factors; and
WHEREAS, There is still significant progress to be made
relating to childhood cancer treatment because many types of
childhood cancer, and some types with lower survival rates, are
very difficult to treat; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is a leader in the fight against and
treatment of childhood cancer, with six Children's Oncology
Group hospitals: St. Christopher's Hospital for Children,
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Geisinger Medical Center,
Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Penn State Health Children's
Hospital and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, Penn State Health Children's Hospital is one of only
13 institutions nationwide in the Pediatric Oncology
Experimental Therapeutic Investigators' Consortium; and
WHEREAS, In 2024, Pennsylvanians contributed more than
$500,000 to the Pediatric Cancer Research Fund through a
donation feature made available during online license,
identification and registration renewals; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians also contributed nearly $23,000 to
the Pediatric Cancer Research Fund in 2024 through the donation
option provided on State income tax returns; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of September 2025 as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage young
Pennsylvanians who are fighting cancer, honor young people who
have lost their lives to childhood cancer, express gratitude to
the doctors and nurses who provide special care to patients and
families affected by childhood cancer and encourage all
residents of this Commonwealth to join the fight against
childhood cancer.
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