Declare Eye Cancer Awareness Day

March 1, 2017, as Ocular Melanoma Awareness Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 1, 2017, as Ocular Melanoma Awareness Day in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, In collaboration with A Cure In Sight, the Ocular Melanoma Foundation (OMF) is proud to be a part of Eye Patch Day for Ocular Melanoma (OM) Awareness; on Saturday, May 20, 2017, OM Warriors around the globe will wear eye patches to raise awareness for ocular melanoma; and WHEREAS, Ocular Melanoma, scientifically named uveal melanoma, is a cancer (melanoma) of the eye involving the iris, ciliary body, or choroid, collectively referred to as the uvea; and WHEREAS, Tumors arise from the pigment cells (melanocytes) that reside within the uvea giving color to the eye; these melanocytes are distinct from the retinal pigment epithelium cells underlying the retina that do not form melanomas; and WHEREAS, Uveal melanomas, often referred to by the media and in the general population as ocular melanomas, may arise from any of the three parts of the uvea, and are sometimes referred to by their location, as choroidal melanoma, ciliary body melanoma, or iris melanoma; and WHEREAS, Large tumors often encompass multiple parts of the uvea and can be named accordingly; true iris melanomas, originating from within the iris as opposed to originating elsewhere and invading the iris, are distinct in their etiology and prognosis, such that the other tumors are often referred to collectively as Posterior uveal melanomas; and WHEREAS, Ocular melanoma is the most common primary cancer of the eye in adults; it is diagnosed in about 2,500 adults every year in the United States and occurs most often in lightly pigmented individuals with a median age of 55 years; however, it can occur in all races and at any age; and WHEREAS, In both the United States and Europe, this equates to about

5 - 7.5 cases per million people per year and, for people over 50 years old, the incidence rate increases to around 21 per million per year; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the local, state, and national levels to support the patients as well as their families; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 1, 2017, as Ocular Melanoma Awareness Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.