A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT designating the month of september of each year as childhood cancer awareness month.
Whereas, childhood cancer is the number one disease-related killer of children in the United States. Statistics show that 1 in 5 children are terminal at diagnosis, 3 in 5 suffer life‑altering impacts from treatment that significantly alter their quality of life, and 1 in 285 will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20; and
Whereas, the incidence of childhood cancer is on the rise with an estimated 15,700 children each year or 43 per day diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone. Of those 43 children per day, seven will die; and
Whereas, the occurrence of cancer among adolescents and young adults is increasing at a greater rate than any other age group, except for those over 65 years of age. The average age of death for a child with cancer is eight, causing a child to lose 70 years of expected life; and
Whereas, despite these facts, childhood cancer research is vastly and consistently underfunded. Less than 5% of the National Cancer Institute's budget is solely dedicated to childhood cancer research. In 25 years, the FDA has initially approved only two drugs to treat childhood cancer and one‑half of all chemotherapies used to treat children's cancers are over 25 years old; and
Whereas, childhood cancers and adult cancers differ, yet the downsized adult cancer protocols are still used on children which often results in devastating outcomes. The lack of childhood cancer research tremendously impacts the lives of children and imposes significant costs on their families and society, now and in the future; and
Whereas, many adult cancers can be diagnosed early; however, for 80% of children, cancer has already spread to other areas of the body by the time it is diagnosed; and
Whereas, the causes of most childhood cancers are unknown and at the present, cannot be prevented. The families of children who are or have been in treatment are working tirelessly to change these alarming statistics; and
Whereas, to bring about awareness of childhood cancer, the State of North Carolina should designate the month of September as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month"; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 103 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 103‑16.  Childhood cancer awareness month.
The month of September of each year is designated as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in North Carolina."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.