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PRINTER'S NO. 3311
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 502
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY MALAGARI, GUZMAN, HOHENSTEIN, CONKLIN, McNEILL,
HILL-EVANS, KAZEEM, SANCHEZ, FREEMAN, GUENST, BENNINGHOFF,
DOUGHERTY, MADDEN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, PASHINSKI, RIVERA,
GALLAGHER, NEILSON AND CURRY, APRIL 29, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, APRIL 29, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of September 2026 as "Thyroid Cancer
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland
located in the front of the neck that produces the thyroid
hormones, which are involved in regulating an individual's
metabolism; and
WHEREAS, There are a number of conditions that an individual
can suffer from if the individual's thyroid is not functioning
properly; and
WHEREAS, One thyroid condition, hypothyroidism, occurs when
the thyroid gland does not produce enough of a thyroid hormone;
and
WHEREAS, Hypothyroidism can cause a variety of symptoms,
including fatigue and unexplained weight gain; and
WHEREAS, Treatment of hypothyroidism typically includes the
prescription of a synthetic thyroid hormone to restore adequate
hormone levels and reduce or eliminate symptoms; and
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WHEREAS, Another thyroid condition, hyperthyroidism, occurs
when the thyroid gland produces too much of a thyroid hormone;
and
WHEREAS, Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include unintentional
weight loss, rapid or irregular heartbeat and increased
nervousness, anxiety and irritability; and
WHEREAS, A number of medications may be prescribed to treat
hyperthyroidism, including radioactive iodine, anti-thyroid
medications, beta blockers and even surgery in rare cases; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, thyroid cancer is a condition that can
be accompanied by symptoms such as a lump in the neck, changes
to an individual's voice, difficulty swallowing, pain in the
neck and throat and swollen lymph nodes; and
WHEREAS, Factors that can increase the risk of thyroid cancer
include having higher levels of estrogen, exposure to high
levels of radiation and inherited genetic syndromes, such as
familial medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia,
and papillary thyroid cancer; and
WHEREAS, Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of
thyroid cancer with it accounting for 80% to 85% of all thyroid
cancer cases; and
WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimated that there
were 44,020 new cases of diagnosed thyroid cancer in 2025, with
31,350 of those diagnosed being women and 12,670 of those
diagnosed being men; and
WHEREAS, Thyroid cancer can be diagnosed at any age but the
average age is 51 years old; and
WHEREAS, Thyroid cancer can typically be cured with treatment
or surgery to remove all or most of the thyroid gland; and
WHEREAS, Due to how well thyroid cancers respond to
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treatment, about 0.4% of thyroid cancer cases are fatal and the
five-year relative survival rate is 98.4%; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 20 million Americans have some form of
thyroid disease, with women being five to eight times more
likely than men to have thyroid issues; and
WHEREAS, It is important to spread awareness of thyroid
conditions, cancers and treatments in order to improve diagnosis
and treatment outcomes for affected individuals; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of September 2026 as "Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania.
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