Bill Text: IL SR1221 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Endorses the following principles as the Cancer Patients' Bill of Rights to express support that cancer patients in the State receive the best cancer care available: (1) cancer patients with complex cancers deserve access to specialized expertise and emerging treatments for their specific type of cancer, including precision medicine and genomic therapies, which are often only available at advanced cancer centers, (2) cancer patients deserve multidisciplinary supportive care while undergoing treatment, including care that addresses pain, emotional, and overall health needs, (3) cancer patients should have the opportunity to access emerging therapies informed by the latest cancer research through relevant early-stage and late-stage clinical trials, which are only available at cancer treatment institutions, (4) to the extent possible, cancer patients should be able to receive timely cancer care in their community, which is often supported by partnerships between community providers and academic institutions, and (5) cancer patients have a right to fully understand their diagnoses and be informed about treatment options in culturally appropriate and understandable languages.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-10-11 - Referred to Assignments [SR1221 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SR1221-Introduced.html

---

SR1221 LRB103 42360 LAW 75584 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Remarkable advances in cancer science are
creating more effective treatments and cures for patients
affected by cancer; and
WHEREAS, Unfortunately, many cancer patients do not
benefit from these treatment advances, and some die needlessly
as a result; and
WHEREAS, Surviving cancer is directly related to early
detection and access to appropriate treatment, including
advanced and sub-specialty care; and
WHEREAS, Many Illinois residents do not have access to
advanced cancer centers offering the latest research and
treatment for their specific cancer type due to their
insurance, means, or other factors; and
WHEREAS, Of the 2 million Americans the American Cancer
Society estimates will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024, more
than 78,000 individuals are predicted to be diagnosed in
Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Cancer care is increasingly reliant on genetic
and genomic testing to direct care for each individual

SR1221 - 2 - LRB103 42360 LAW 75584 r
patient; and
WHEREAS, It is now understood that access to
multidisciplinary supportive care while undergoing treatment
can significantly impact outcomes and survival for cancer
patients; and
WHEREAS, There is a growing understanding that there are
hundreds of different cancer types and each may require
different types of therapy; the complexities of cancer care
include relying on the accuracy of the initial diagnosis, the
choice of therapy, and access to appropriate clinical trials;
and
WHEREAS, There is significant variability in the ability
of medical oncologists to stay current with the most recent
evidence due to the complexities of cancer care in the
precision medicine era; and
WHEREAS, For many cancer patients, the first chance for a
cure is the best chance for a cure, highlighting the need for
access to appropriate expertise early in the cancer journey;
and
WHEREAS, There are disparities in cancer outcomes and
access to leading-edge clinical trials based on race and

SR1221 - 3 - LRB103 42360 LAW 75584 r
socioeconomic status that are unfavorable to those that are
the most vulnerable and disadvantaged; and
WHEREAS, The speed of discovery in cancer diagnosis,
treatment, and surveillance is creating a widening gap between
the optimal care received by those with means and the
substandard care too often received by the most vulnerable
residents of Illinois, which will only worsen if it is not
addressed; this reality reflects an important truth that
cancer care is different from other types of health care, and
the needs of cancer patients are different from those with
other illnesses; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that Illinois policymakers
prioritize appropriate and timely access to expert cancer care
for patients; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we endorse the
following principles as the Cancer Patients' Bill of Rights to
express our support that cancer patients in the State receive
the best cancer care available:
(1) Cancer patients with complex cancers deserve
access to specialized expertise and emerging treatments
for their specific type of cancer, including precision
medicine and genomic therapies, which are only available

SR1221 - 4 - LRB103 42360 LAW 75584 r
at advanced cancer centers;
(2) Cancer patients deserve multidisciplinary
supportive care while undergoing treatment, including care
that addresses pain, emotional, and overall health needs;
(3) Cancer patients should have the opportunity to
access emerging therapies informed by the latest cancer
research through relevant early-stage and late-stage
clinical trials, which are often only available at cancer
treatment institutions;
(4) To the extent possible, cancer patients should be
able to receive timely cancer care in their community,
which is often supported by partnerships between community
providers and academic institutions; and
(5) Cancer patients have a right to fully understand
their diagnoses and be informed about treatment options in
culturally appropriate and understandable languages; and
be it further