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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Modern medicine has made amazing advances in 
3fighting pediatric cancer; pediatric cancer survivors are 
4faced with a unique set of problems because of these advances; 
5and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Cure rates for pediatric cancers have risen 
7dramatically during the past 20 years; it is estimated that one 
8in every 900 people, ages 16 to 44, is a survivor of pediatric 
9cancer; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Today, almost 70% of children that are diagnosed 
11with brain cancer survive treatment; this statistic calls into 
12focus the need to look at a child's quality of life in the 
13years following treatment; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Pediatric cancer survivorship can come with a 
15price in the form of long-term medical, financial, 
16psychosocial, and/or neuro-cognitive problems due to 
17chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, The major expenses of a pediatric cancer diagnosis 
19and treatment program are associated with the direct costs of 
20medical care, including charges for hospitalizations, clinic 
21visits, medications, tests and procedures, home health 
 
 
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1services, services of doctors and other professionals, and 
2treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, 
3and bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Even well-insured, middle-class families with 
5health insurance can find themselves in financial distress 
6because of a single catastrophic illness; even when insurance 
7doesn't run out, health care costs can be staggering for the 
8families of children with cancer; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois recognizes that amazing 
10advances have been made in the treatment of pediatric cancer 
11and survivor rates; therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
13NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
14we designate the week of March 25 - March 31, 2012 as Pediatric 
15Cancer Survivorship Week in the State of Illinois and urge the 
16citizens of this State to show their support for those who have 
17survived pediatric cancer.