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Recognizing September 2022 as "Blood Cancer Awareness Month" in Philadelphia, to spread awareness about leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, and to support patients affected by blood cancer.
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WHEREAS, Blood Cancer Awareness Month is crucial in increasing research efforts and awareness on blood cancer; and
WHEREAS, In 2021, An estimated 1,519,907 people in the United States were either living with, or were in remission from, blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), or myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs); and
WHEREAS, New cases of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma were expected to account for 9.8% of the estimated 1,898,160 new cancer cases diagnosed in the United States in 2021; and
WHEREAS, An estimated combined total of 186,400 people in the United State were expected to be diagnosed with a blood cancer in 2021; and
WHEREAS, Every nine minutes, someone in the United States dies from leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, which represents approximately 158 people dying each day, or more than six people every hour; and
WHEREAS, Leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma were expected to cause the deaths of an estimated 57,750 people in the United States in 2021; and
WHEREAS, As of now, there are no effective screen programs for early detection of blood cancer; and
WHEREAS, The global COVID-19 pandemic magnified the issues that blood cancer patients face beyond health concerns, including added distress, new financial worries, loneliness and uncertainty; and
WHEREAS, Awareness and education are powerful tools in the race to find a cure for blood cancers; and
WHEREAS, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) exists to find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients; and
WHEREAS, LLS designates September of every year as “Blood Cancer Awareness Month,” as a means to educate communities about the types, risk factors, prevention and advancement in treatment, and present survival rate of the population suffering from blood cancers; and
WHEREAS, Blood cancer patients and their families need help more than ever; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia is committed to the eradication of blood cancer and supports the treatment of blood cancer patients and their families. The health and vitality of the people of Philadelphia are significantly enhanced by local efforts to increase communication and education pertaining to blood cancers; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes September 2022 as "Blood Cancer Awareness Month" in Philadelphia, to spread awareness about leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, and to support patients affected by blood cancer.
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