Declare Blood Cancer Awareness Month

Senate Resolution No. 102 BY: Senator PERSAUD MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 2025, as Blood Cancer Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious illnesses 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 Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 2025, as Blood Cancer Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Blood Cancer Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, During September, National Blood Cancer Awareness Month sheds light on the cancers that affect the blood and lymphatic systems; and WHEREAS, This vital observance focuses its attention on all blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndromes; by raising awareness, the goal is to inform the public about the causes of blood cancers, how to identify the symptoms, available treatments, and progress made through research; and WHEREAS, Blood cancers affect white blood cells or in some cases, red blood cells or platelets; while no effective screening exists, knowing the symptoms and risk factors helps to understand when to see a doctor; and WHEREAS, Symptoms of blood cancers include: lymph node swelling, persistent fatigue, night sweats, fever, difficulty catching breath and/or unexplained weight loss; and WHEREAS, Risk factors of blood cancers include: family history, genetic disorders, smoking, exposure to radiation or chemotherapy, individuals with HIV who take immune-suppressing drugs, and people with Epstein-Barr; and WHEREAS, Although the leukemia survival rate has quadrupled since

1960, in the United States, approximately 14,000 people are diagnosed with blood cancers every month; depending on the type of cancer, the survival rate varies; and WHEREAS, Hodgkin's lymphoma, for example, has a much higher survival rate and is diagnosed less often; conversely, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma will be diagnosed more often and will have a lower expectation of survival; and WHEREAS, Even though survival rates continue to improve, someone in the United States dies from a blood cancer every nine minutes; in the United States, nearly 10% of the people who die from cancer, die from blood cancer; and WHEREAS, Awareness and education are powerful tools in the race to find a cure for blood cancers; and WHEREAS, The health and vitality of the people of New York are significantly enhanced by local efforts to increase communication and education pertaining to blood cancers; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 2025, as Blood Cancer Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.