Senate Resolution No. 2064
BY: Senator PERSAUD
MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
September 2026, 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 2026, 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, but not limited to, leukemia (including chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)), lymphoma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia,
multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, and other related
hematologic malignancies-by raising awareness, the goal is to inform the
public about the causes of blood cancers, how to identify symptoms,
available treatments, and progress made through research;
WHEREAS, CLL, the most common adult leukemia, is a chronic and often
incurable disease requiring ongoing management, with patients facing
unique challenges including active surveillance, risk of infection, and
long-term care needs; and
WHEREAS, While advances in targeted therapies have improved outcomes
for individuals with CLL, disparities in access to innovative
treatments, specialized care, and clinical trials persist, underscoring
the need for continued research and high-quality, accessible care for
all patients; and
WHEREAS, Blood cancers affect white blood cells and, in some cases,
red blood cells or platelets; and, while no widely recommended screening
tests currently exist, awareness of symptoms and risk factors is
critical to understanding when to seek medical evaluation; and
WHEREAS, Symptoms of blood cancer include: lymph node swelling,
persistent fatigue, night sweats, fever, difficulty catching breath
and/or unexplained weight loss; and
WHEREAS, Risk factors for blood cancers include family history,
certain genetic disorders, smoking, exposure to radiation or prior
chemotherapy, immune system dysfunction or immunosuppression (including
in individuals with HIV or those receiving immunosuppressive therapy),
and infection with viruses such as Epstein-Barr; and
WHEREAS, Significant advances in the treatment of blood
cancers-including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, and other
hematologic malignancies-have led to innovative therapies such as
cellular immunotherapies (including CAR-T), bispecific antibodies,
antibody-drug conjugates, and targeted precision medicines, resulting in
improved survival rates and quality of life for patients; and
WHEREAS, All targeted therapies for blood cancers are not
interchangeable, as they differ in mechanism, efficacy, and suitability
for individual patients, and therefore treatment decisions must be
guided by the judgment of physicians to ensure that each patient
receives the therapy best aligned with their specific diagnosis, disease
subtype, overall health, and clinical needs; and
WHEREAS, There remains a strong and expanding pipeline of potential
therapies for blood cancers, with hundreds of new treatments currently
in development worldwide, reflecting one of the most active areas of
cancer research and offering continued hope for more effective, less
toxic, and potentially curative options in the future; and
WHEREAS, Although the leukemia survival rate has quadrupled since
1960, in the United States, approximately 16,000 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 2026, 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 and Blood Cancer United.
