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PROCLAMATION PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR IN RECOGNITION OF CHILDOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, SEPTEMBER 2019
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WHEREAS: Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children; and
WHEREAS: 1 in 285 children in the United States will be diagnosed by their 20th birthday; and
WHEREAS: 43 children per day or 15,780 children are diagnosed with cancer annually in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS: There are approximately 40,000 children on active treatment at any given time; and
WHEREAS: The average age of diagnosis is 6 years old, compared to 66 years for adults' cancer diagnosis; and
WHEREAS: 80% of childhood cancer patients are diagnosed late and with metastatic disease; and
WHEREAS: On the average, there's been a 0.6 % increase in incidence per year since the mid-1970's resulting in an overall incidence increase of 24% over the last 40 years; and
WHEREAS: Two-thirds of childhood cancer patients will have chronic health conditions as a result of their treatment toxicity, with one quarter being classified as severe to life-threatening; and
WHEREAS: Approximately one half of childhood cancer families rate the associated financial toxicity due to out-of-pocket expenses as considerable to severe; and
WHEREAS: In the last 20 years only four new drugs have been approved by the FDA to specifically treat childhood cancer; and
WHEREAS: The National Cancer Institute recognizes the unique research needs of childhood cancer and the associated need for increased funding to carry this out; and
WHEREAS: Hundreds of non-profit organizations at the local and national level including the Friends of Faith Pruden Foundation are helping children with cancer and their families cope through educational, emotional and financial support; and
WHEREAS: Researchers and healthcare professionals work diligently dedicating their expertise to treat and cure children with cancer; and
WHEREAS: Too many children are affected by this deadly disease and more must b...
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