A resolution designating July 22, 2020, as "Glioblastoma Awareness Day".

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 617 Designating July 22, 2020, as ‘‘Glioblastoma Awareness Day’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JUNE 15, 2020 Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. MCSALLY, Ms. SINEMA, and Ms. WARREN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary JULY 22, 2020 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating July 22, 2020, as ‘‘Glioblastoma Awareness Day’’. Whereas more than 13,000 new cases of glioblastoma will be diagnosed in the United States in 2020; Whereas glioblastoma is— (1) the most common malignant (cancerous) brain tumor, accounting for 48 percent of all primary malig- nant brain tumors; and (2) the most aggressive, complex, difficult to treat, and deadly type of brain tumor; Whereas it is estimated that more than 10,000 individuals in the United States will succumb to glioblastoma every year; VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Jul 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR617.ATS SR617 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 SRES 617 ATS Whereas the 5-year survival rate for glioblastoma patients is only 6.8 percent, and the average length of survival for glioblastoma patients is estimated to be only 12 to 18 months; Whereas glioblastoma is described as a disease that affects the ‘‘essence of self’’, as the treatment and removal of glioblastoma presents significant challenges due to the uniquely complex and fragile nature of the brain, the pri- mary organ in the human body that controls not only cognitive ability, but also the actions of every organ and limb; Whereas, relative to other types of cancers, brain cancer has— (1) the highest per-patient initial cost of care, with an annualized mean net cost of care approaching $150,000; and (2) the highest annualized mean net costs for last- year-of-life care, with a cost of between $135,000 and $210,000 per patient, depending on the age and gender of a patient; Whereas, although research advances may fuel the develop- ment of new treatments for glioblastoma, challenging ob- stacles to accelerating progress toward new treatments for glioblastoma remain, and there are no screening or early detection methods; Whereas, although glioblastoma was first described in medical and scientific literature in the 1920s, and despite its dev- astating prognosis, only 4 drugs and 1 medical device have been approved by the Food and Drug Administra- tion to treat glioblastoma since the 1920s, and the mor- tality rates associated with glioblastoma have changed lit- tle during the past 30 years; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Jul 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR617.ATS SR617 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 SRES 617 ATS Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of glio- blastoma, including awareness of both— (1) the urgent unmet medical needs of glioblastoma patients; and (2) the opportunities for research and treatment ad- vances for glioblastoma: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates July 22, 2020, as ‘‘Glioblastoma 2 Awareness Day’’; 3 (2) encourages increased public awareness of 4 glioblastoma; 5 (3) honors the individuals who have lost their 6 lives to glioblastoma, a devastating disease, or are 7 currently living with it; 8 (4) supports efforts to develop better treat- 9 ments for glioblastoma that will improve the long- 10 term prognosis of individuals diagnosed with glio- 11 blastoma; 12 (5) expresses its support for the individuals who 13 are battling brain tumors, as well as the families, 14 friends, and caregivers of those individuals; and 15 (6) urges a collaborative approach to brain 16 tumor research, which is a promising means of ad- 17 vancing the understanding and treatment of glio- 18 blastoma. 19 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Jul 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR617.ATS SR617 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS