III 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 254 

Supporting efforts for increased healthy living for childhood cancer survivors. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 25, 2007 

Mr. COLEMAN (for himself and Mr. REED) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 

Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting efforts for increased healthy living for childhood 

cancer survivors. 

Whereas an estimated 9,000 children under the age of 15 will 

be diagnosed with cancer in the year 2007; 

Whereas oncology, the study of cancer and tumors, has made 

significant progress in the prevention, treatment, and 

prognosis of many childhood cancers; 

Whereas the number of survivors of childhood cancer continues to grow, with about 1 in 640 adults between the 

ages of 20 and 39 having a history of cancer; 

Whereas despite this progress, cancer is the chief cause of 

death by disease in children under age 15, and the fourth 

leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 19; 


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Whereas childhood cancer varies from adult cancers in development, treatment, response to therapy, tolerance of 

therapy, and prognosis; 

Whereas, in most cases, childhood cancer is more responsive 

to therapy, the child can tolerate more aggressive therapy, and the prognosis is better; 

Whereas extraordinary progress has been made in improving 

the cure rates for childhood cancers, but this progress involves varying degrees of risks for both acute and chronic 

toxicities; 

Whereas many childhood cancer survivors and their families 

have courageously won the fight against cancer, but continue to be challenged in their attempt to regain quality 

of life, and will never fully return to their pre-cancer life; 

Whereas half of all childhood cancer survivors have long-term 

learning problems as a result of their cancer or the treatment of their cancer; 

Whereas the prolonged absences or reduced energy levels that 

frequently occur during treatment may contribute to difficulties for a child; 

Whereas recent scientific reports indicate that treatment for 

cancer during childhood or adolescence may affect cognitive and educational progress due to neurotoxic agents 

(such as chemotherapy or radiation); 

Whereas cancer that may spread to the brain or spinal cord 

requires therapy that can sometimes affect cognition, attention and processing speed, memory, and other learning 

abilities; 

Whereas children with brain tumors, tumors involving the eye 

or ear, acute lymphoblastic leukemia or non-Hodgkin’s 


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lymphoma face a higher risk of developing educational 

difficulties; 

Whereas the educational challenges of a childhood cancer survivor may appear years after treatment is completed and 

are frequently misdiagnosed or ignored all together; 

Whereas few educators are aware of the educational late effects related to cancer treatment; 

Whereas childhood cancer survivors and their parents deserve 

and need neuropsychological testing to help them achieve 

academic success and have productive, hopeful futures; 

Whereas some progress has been made, but a number of opportunities for childhood cancer research still remain underfunded; and 

Whereas increased recognition and awareness of neuropsychological testing for childhood cancer survivors can 

have a significant impact on the education and ultimately 

the quality of life and productivity of people with childhood cancer: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 

2 United States Government should— 

3 (1) support neuropsychological research and 

4 testing of childhood cancer survivors and their fami5 lies; 

6 (2) work with health care providers, educators, 

7 and childhood cancer advocacy and education organi8 zations to encourage neuropsychological testing; 

9 (3) recognize and reaffirm the commitment of 

10 the United States to fighting childhood cancer by 


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1 promoting awareness about the causes, risks, pre2 vention, and treatment of childhood cancer; 

3 (4) promote new education programs about, re4 search of, and expanded medical treatment for child5 hood cancer survivors; 

6 (5) support research and expanded public-pri7 vate partnerships to improve post-cancer life for 

8 childhood cancer survivors; and 

9 (6) encourage the early diagnosis and access to 

10 high-quality care for childhood cancer patients and 

11 survivors. 

Æ 


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