THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MURPHY, VULAKOVICH, CUTLER, BAKER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BRENNAN, BROOKS, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, DALEY, DEASY, DELOZIER, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, FABRIZIO, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GROVE, HARHART, HORNAMAN, KNOWLES, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, HENNESSEY, MARSICO, McGEEHAN, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MOUL, MULLERY, BEAR, MURT, OBERLANDER, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PYLE, QUINN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, M. SMITH, K. SMITH, SONNEY, SWANGER, TALLMAN, VEREB, YOUNGBLOOD, KIRKLAND, KILLION, GERGELY AND SAYLOR, OCTOBER 5, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 5, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of November 2011 as "Pancreatic Cancer

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, In 2011, an estimated 44,030 people will be

diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States and 37,660

will die from the disease; and

WHEREAS, Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers

and is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United

States; and

WHEREAS, When symptoms of pancreatic cancer present

themselves, it is usually too late for an optimistic prognosis,

and 74% of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first year

of their diagnoses while 94% of pancreatic cancer patients die

within the first five years; and

WHEREAS, Of all the racial/ethnic groups in the United

States, African Americans have the highest incidence of

pancreatic cancer, between 34% and 70% higher than the other

groups; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 2,070 deaths will occur in

Pennsylvania in 2011; and

WHEREAS, There is no cure for pancreatic cancer and there

have been no significant improvements in survival rates in the

last 40 years; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Government invests significantly less

money in pancreatic cancer research than it does in any of the

other leading cancer killers; and

WHEREAS, Pancreatic cancer research constitutes only

approximately 2% of the National Cancer Institute's Federal

research funding, a figure far too low given the severity of the

disease, its mortality rate and how little is known about how to

arrest it; and

WHEREAS, The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the first

and only national patient advocacy organization that serves the

pancreatic cancer community in Pennsylvania and nationwide by

focusing its efforts on public policy, research funding, patient

services and public awareness and education related to

developing effective treatments and a cure for pancreatic

cancer; and

WHEREAS, The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network supports

patients currently battling pancreatic cancer, as well as the

families of those who have lost their lives to the disease, and

is committed to nothing less than a cure; and

WHEREAS, The good health and well-being of the residents of

Pennsylvania are enhanced as a direct result of increased

awareness about pancreatic cancer and research into early

detection, causes and effective treatments; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of November 2011 as "Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month" in

Pennsylvania.