Title: A resolution designating July 17, 2019, as "Glioblastoma Awareness Day".
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution designates July 17, 2019, as Glioblastoma Awareness Day.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 245 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 245

     Designating July 17, 2019, as ``Glioblastoma Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 11, 2019

   Mr. Graham (for himself, Ms. McSally, Ms. Sinema, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
 McConnell, and Mr. Markey) submitted the following resolution; which 
                      was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Designating July 17, 2019, as ``Glioblastoma Awareness Day''.

Whereas an estimated 13,310 new cases of glioblastoma will be diagnosed in the 
        United States in 2019;
Whereas glioblastoma is--

    (1) the most common malignant (cancerous) brain tumor, accounting for 
47 percent of all primary malignant brain tumors; and

    (2) the most aggressive, complex, difficult to treat, and deadliest 
brain tumor;

Whereas it is estimated that more than 15,000 people in the United States will 
        succumb to glioblastoma every year;
Whereas the 5-year survival rate for glioblastoma patients is only 5.6 percent 
        and the average 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 because of the uniquely complex and fragile 
        nature of the brain, the primary organ in the human body that controls 
        not only cognitive ability, but the actions of every organ and limb;
Whereas brain cancer has--

    (1) the highest per-patient initial cost of care for any cancer group, 
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, 
relative to other cancers, at $135,000 to $210,000 (depending on age and 
gender) per patient;

Whereas, although research advances may fuel the development of new treatments 
        for glioblastoma, challenging obstacles 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 devastating prognosis, only 4 
        drugs and 1 medical device have been approved by the Food and Drug 
        Administration to treat glioblastoma since the 1920s, and the mortality 
        rates associated with glioblastoma have changed little during the past 
        30 years; and
Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of glioblastoma, including 
        both the urgent unmet medical need, as well as the opportunities for 
        research and treatment advances for glioblastoma patients: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates July 17, 2019, as ``Glioblastoma Awareness 
        Day'';
            (2) encourages increased public awareness of glioblastoma;
            (3) honors those individuals who have lost their lives to 
        that devastating disease or are currently living with it;
            (4) supports efforts to develop better treatments for 
        glioblastoma that will improve the long-term prognosis of 
        individuals diagnosed with glioblastoma;
            (5) expresses its support for those individuals who are 
        battling brain tumors, as well as the families, friends, and 
        caregivers of those individuals; and
            (6) urges a collaborative approach to brain tumor research, 
        which is a promising means of advancing understanding of, and 
        treatment for, glioblastoma.
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