SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 3

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first special session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Michael S. Sanchez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

DECLARING SEPTEMBER 2011 "CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE.

     WHEREAS, each year, approximately twelve thousand five hundred American children are diagnosed with cancer; and

     WHEREAS, oncologist Stuart Winter at the university of New Mexico reports that the university sees seventy-five to ninety new childhood cancer cases a year; and

     WHEREAS, there has been dramatic progress in treating cancer in children in the past few decades, with an eighty percent rate of cure among children; and

     WHEREAS, three out of every four children diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease are cured; and

     WHEREAS, the number of children surviving acute lymphocytic leukemia has risen by twenty-five percent since 1974; and

     WHEREAS, Dr. Winter attributes the high rate of cure among children to the practice of encouraging patients and their families to participate in cancer clinical trials, in which the patient serves as a human subject of research; and

     WHEREAS, although survival rates have risen sharply over the past few decades, cancer is still the leading cause of death by disease for young people; and

     WHEREAS, the causes of cancer in children are largely unknown; and

     WHEREAS, further research is greatly needed to find the risk factors for and causes of childhood cancers; and

     WHEREAS, health care professionals, researchers, private philanthropies, social support organizations and advocacy groups are working together in this state and nationwide to end the threat of childhood cancers; and

     WHEREAS, in order to maintain access to high-quality cancer care in the state, New Mexico policymakers must continue to recruit and retain health care professionals with expertise in treating childhood cancers; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has the good fortune to have world-class physicians and staff and award-winning cancer treatment institutions, such as the New Mexico cancer center, the southern New Mexico cancer center and the university of New Mexico cancer center; and

     WHEREAS, state policymakers must continue to advocate for world-class cancer research, treatment and community support in New Mexico to provide a future for New Mexico's youngest residents who are living with cancer;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that September 2011 be declared "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" in the New Mexico legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the chair of the legislative finance committee, the chair of the legislative health and human services committee, the secretary of health and the secretary of human services.

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