SR1203 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1203 LRB098 21330 GRL 59577 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Lung cancer kills, on average, 158,000 Americans every year, more than any other form of cancer; and

WHEREAS, While smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, secondhand smoke exposure, radon, asbestos, and genetic disorders have also long been known to cause lung cancer; and

WHEREAS, The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer recently added outdoor air pollution and particulate matter to the growing list of air pollutants known to cause lung cancer; and

WHEREAS, Although avoiding exposure to these carcinogens, e.g. cigarette smoke, asbestos, air pollution, etc., is the best way to prevent lung cancer, people cannot always avoid them because they are so widespread; and

WHEREAS, The 5-year survival rate for lung cancer is only about 17%, among the lowest of all types of cancer; and

WHEREAS, Early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer greatly improves survival rates; however, most cases are not diagnosed until later stages; and

WHEREAS, Early diagnosis of lung cancer using low-dose CT scans has shown promise in a high risk population, but is not yet a generally accepted cancer screening method in the United States; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that approximately 72,000 American women will die of lung cancer in 2014, accounting for 26% of all female deaths due to cancer; and

WHEREAS, Someone in the United States is told that he or she has lung cancer every 2 1/2 minutes; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate August 1, 2014 as World Lung Cancer Day in the State of Illinois in order to raise awareness of this growing health risk.