U.S. Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) on May 15 unveiled a bipartisan resolution that aims to raise awareness and promote expanded research for pediatric cancers.
House Resolution (H.Res.) 1295 would designate May 17 as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Awareness Day, named for a rare and deadly form of pediatric cancer that has an average life expectancy after diagnosis of one year. The resolution also would raise awareness and encourage research into cures for pediatric cancers in general.
“Every child deserves to live a happy and healthy life, but unfortunately, those diagnosed with DIPG have to deal with an incredibly difficult and uncertain future,” Rep. Joyce said. “The children and families dealing with this terrible disease merit support from all levels, including Congress.”
Rep. Joyce and Rep. McCaul cosponsored H.Res. 1295, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) to encourage Americans to become more informed about DIPG pediatric brain cancer, as well as the current challenges to the medical research system in designating sufficient research funding for pediatric cancers.
The lawmakers said that every year, nearly 16,000 children across the country are diagnosed with cancer. Of those, about 300 are diagnosed with DIPG, making it the second most common malignant brain tumor of childhood, and the leading cause of childhood death due to brain tumors.
“Every cancer battle is grueling, but for a child with a whole life ahead of them, it is a uniquely devastating journey,” said Rep. Dingell. “We must work together to continue the fight against childhood cancer.”
The resolution also supports expanded research to better understand DIPG, develop effective treatments, and provide comprehensive care for children with DIPG and their families; and encourages public and private sources of research funding to elevate their consideration of the mortality rate of a type of cancer, as well as the life-years lost, as significant factors to be considered during the grant application process, according to the text of the resolution.
“With a heartbreaking survival rate of less than one percent, DIPG is considered the most lethal form of childhood cancer,” said Rep. McCaul, founder of the Childhood Cancer Caucus. “We must do everything in our power to change that and give these children the futures they deserve. For the precious young lives diagnosed with this disease, there’s no time to waste.”