house resolution no.291

Reps. Wittenberg, Green and Sabo offered the following resolution:

A resolution to declare July 22, 2020 as Glioblastoma Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Brain Tumors, specifically Glioblastoma, have become recognized in recent years as one of the deadliest cancers; and

Whereas, Glioblastoma is the most common cancerous brain tumor accounting for 48 percent of all primary malignant brain tumors; and

Whereas, Glioblastoma is the most aggressive, complex and deadly type of brain tumor; and

Whereas, Glioblastoma continues to be one of the most difficult cancers to detect in the early stages of the disease, which contributes to high mortality rates. There are an estimated 400 new diagnoses of Glioblastoma in Michigan in 2020; and

Whereas, The 5-year survival rate for a glioblastoma patient is only 6.8 percent and the average length of survival for glioblastoma patients is estimated to be only 12-18 months; and

Whereas, Relative to other types of cancers, brain cancer has one of the highest per-patient cost of care with an annualized mean net cost of care approaching $150,000 US dollars and the highest annualized mean net costs for last-year-of-life care with a cost of between $135,000 and $210,000 per patient depending on the age and gender of the patient; and

Whereas, More than any other cancer, brain tumors can have lasting and life-altering physical, cognitive, and psychological impacts on a patient’s life; and

Whereas, The state of Michigan has attained national recognition as a leading center of excellence in the field of brain tumor treatment and research as a result of the number of patients traveling to Michigan for clinical trial participation, grant dollars locally used to create jobs, and professionals specializing in brain tumors across the state; and

Whereas, Michigan is proud to be home to high level brain cancer centers such as the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center at Henry Ford Hospital and Rogel Cancer Center at University of Michigan. We encourage Michigan residents to continue to be vigilant and proactive when it comes to their healthcare; and

Whereas, Although Glioblastoma was first described in medical and scientific literature in the 1920s, and despite its devastating prognosis, only 4 drugs and one medical device have been approved by the FDA to treat glioblastoma since 1920 and the mortality rates associated with Glioblastoma have changed little during the past 30 years; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the House of Representatives and the members of this legislative body designate July 22, 2020 as Glioblastoma Awareness Day in the state of Michigan. We support the goals of Glioblastoma Awareness Day, encourage efforts to increase awareness of and education about Glioblastoma among the general public of Michigan and recognize the need for additional research into diagnosis, screening and treatments for brain tumors. We honor the individuals who have lost their lives to Glioblastoma or are currently living with it; we support efforts to develop better treatments for Glioblastoma that will improve the long-term prognosis of individuals diagnosed with Glioblastoma; We express support for the individuals who are battling brain tumors as well as families, friends, and caregivers of those individuals and urge a collaborative approach to brain tumor research which is a promising means of advancing the understanding and treatment of Glioblastoma.