PRINTER'S NO. 2475
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1941
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY GREEN, MADDEN, HILL-EVANS, KINSEY, KHAN, GIRAL,
FREEMAN, MALAGARI, DONAHUE, KAZEEM, DELLOSO, SANCHEZ,
HADDOCK, MAYES, CERRATO, CONKLIN, GILLEN AND OTTEN,
JANUARY 3, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 3, 2024
AN ACT
Amending Title 38 (Holidays and Observances) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, providing for cancer survivor
recognition.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 38 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 17
CANCER SURVIVOR RECOGNITION
Sec.
1701. Scope of chapter.
1702. Definitions.
1703. Cancer Survivor Week.
1704. Cancer of Unknown Primary Day.
§ 1701. Scope of chapter.
This chapter recognizes cancer survivors and fosters greater
awareness of cancers of unknown primary.
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§ 1702. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"CUP." Cancer of unknown primary.
§ 1703. Cancer Survivor Week.
(a) Legislative findings and declarations.--The General
Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) As a result of advances in early detection and
treatment, cancer has become a curable disease for some and a
chronic illness for many others.
(2) A cancer survivor can be considered anyone living
with a history of cancer from the moment of diagnosis through
the remainder of life.
(3) A cancer survivor may be a parent, child,
grandparent, family member, friend, neighbor or colleague.
(4) Cancer survivorship has three distinct phases:
living with cancer, living through cancer and living beyond
cancer.
(5) Surviving cancer may leave a host of problems in its
wake.
(6) Physical, emotional and financial hardships often
persist for years after diagnosis and treatment.
(7) Many cancer survivors are deeply grateful to their
caregivers, family, friends, health care providers and
communities for the love, dedication and support while
battling cancer.
(8) It is important that we honor all cancer survivors
for their strength, courage and inspiration.
(b) Designation.--November 26 through December 2 of each
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year is designated as Cancer Survivor Week.
(c) Proclamation.--The Governor shall annually issue a
proclamation encouraging all public schools and educational
institutions to observe Cancer Survivor Week. The proclamation
may not mandate a public school or educational institution to
participate in the observance.
§ 1704. Cancer of Unknown Primary Day.
(a) Legislative findings and declarations.--The General
Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Cancer can develop anywhere in the body and the
organ or part of the body where cancer begins is known as the
primary site.
(2) Cancer, including cancer that metastasizes, or
spreads, to form new tumors elsewhere in the body is named
after the primary site.
(3) CUP occurs when cancer cells have spread in the body
and formed metastatic tumors yet the site of the primary
cancer is not known.
(4) Also called occult primary cancer, CUP is most
commonly found in the lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bones or
skin.
(5) For most people with CUP, a primary site of cancer
is not identified and teams of oncology and health care
professionals identify features of each individual tumor to
determine the best care plan.
(6) Signs and symptoms of CUP depend on what part of the
body is involved and can include lumps that can be felt
through the skin, pain, changes in bowel habits, such as new
and persistent constipation or diarrhea, frequent urination,
cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.
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(7) The risk of CUP may be related to older age and a
family history of cancer.
(8) About 80% to 85% of patients diagnosed with CUP are
impacted by an aggressive form of the disease with an
unpredictable pattern of metastatic spread resistant to
standard chemotherapy, leading to a reduced survival rate of
five to 11 months on average.
(9) It is important that all health care professionals,
patients and cancer research centers within this Commonwealth
foster greater awareness for CUP sites.
(b) Designation.--November 30 of each year is designated as
Cancer of Unknown Primary Day.
(c) Proclamation.--The Governor shall issue annually a
proclamation encouraging all public schools and educational
institutions to observe Cancer of Unknown Primary Day. The
proclamation may not mandate a public school or educational
institution to participate in the observance.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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