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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, A cancer survivor is defined as anyone living
3with a history of cancer, from the moment of diagnosis through
4the remainder of life, and there are more than 18 million
5cancer survivors in the United States; and
 
6    WHEREAS, National Cancer Survivors Day is an annual,
7treasured celebration of life that is held across the United
8States on the first Sunday in June; on this day, people come
9together to commemorate cancer survivors; the day further
10serves to remind us all that cancer is a disease without
11boundaries, crossing the lines of color, race, creed, sex, and
12age, which affects not only the lives of those inflicted with
13the disease but their loved ones as well; and
 
14    WHEREAS, On National Cancer Survivors Day, thousands
15gather to honor cancer survivors and to show the world that
16life after a cancer diagnosis can be fruitful, rewarding, and
17inspiring; this day also provides an opportunity to draw
18attention to the ongoing challenges of cancer survivorship and
19promote the need for more resources, research, and
20survivor-friendly legislation to improve cancer survivors'
21quality of life; and
 
22    WHEREAS, National Cancer Survivors Day further allows

 

 

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1cancer survivors the opportunity to recognize the people who
2have helped them through their journey in addressing and
3fighting cancer, including family members, friends, and
4medical professionals; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Due to advances in cancer prevention, early
6detection, treatment, and follow-up care, more people than
7ever before are surviving the disease; in the United States
8alone, more than 18 million people are alive today after being
9diagnosed with cancer, and the number of cancer survivors is
10projected to increase to over 22 million by 2030; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Nonetheless, surviving cancer can leave a host of
12problems in its wake, including physical, emotional, and
13financial hardships that often persist for years after
14diagnosis and treatment; cancer survivors are also at a
15greater risk for developing second cancers and other health
16conditions; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Cancer survivors may face numerous challenges
18during and after treatment, including limited access to cancer
19specialists and promising new treatments, difficulty accessing
20health insurance and life insurance coverage, difficulty
21finding jobs, and economic burdens due to mounting medical
22expenses, lost wages, and lost productivity; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, In addition to these challenges, cancer survivors
2may face emotional struggles, strains on personal
3relationships, and profound fear of cancer recurrence; the
4effects of cancer do not simply end when treatment does; and
 
5    WHEREAS, A continued focus on providing resources,
6performing research, and adopting survivor-friendly
7legislation is needed to improve the quality of life for
8cancer survivors, both during and after treatment; therefore,
9be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
11HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12we declare June 4, 2023 as Cancer Survivors Day in the State of
13Illinois in order to recognize and celebrate the valuable,
14dynamic population of cancer survivors in Illinois.