SJ0030 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0030 LRB095 11086 KXB 31413 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in Illinois, the United States, and the world, this year killing more Americans than breast, prostate, and colon cancer combined; and

WHEREAS, There were an estimated 173,000 new cases of lung cancer and an estimate 428 deaths from lung cancer each day in the United States; and

WHEREAS, There will be an estimated 7,290 new cases of lung cancer in Illinois this year, and there will be an estimated 6,790 deaths from lung cancer this year; and

WHEREAS, Smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer, yet former smokers and persons who have never smoked comprise 60% of the majority of new cases of lung cancer each year; and

WHEREAS, Other causes of lung cancer are exposure to cancer-causing substances or carcinogens, such as asbestos, radon, uranium, arsenic, and certain petroleum products; and

WHEREAS, In the early stages of lung cancer, symptoms are usually not apparent, however, when symptoms occur, the cancer is often advanced; and

WHEREAS, Symptoms of lung cancer include chronic cough, hoarseness, coughing up blood, weight loss and loss of appetite, shortness of breath, fever without a known reason, wheezing, repeated bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia and chest pain; and

WHEREAS, There is currently no standard screening for lung cancer; and

WHEREAS, Funding for lung cancer medical research falls far short of that for other less fatal diseases; and

WHEREAS, To help build awareness and save lives, the Lung Cancer Alliance, a national patient advocacy group for lung cancer dedicated to helping build awareness of this disease, has proclaimed November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, It is only fitting and proper for the State of Illinois to join the nation in designating November as "Lung Cancer Awareness Month" so that through better education, more cases of lung cancer may be found in the early stage, when the chances of long-term survival are as high as 85 percent; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that the month of November annually be designated "Lung Cancer Awareness Month" in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the public officials and the citizens of Illinois to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs annually; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to Governor Rod Blagojevich.