LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim June 2014 as Cancer Immunotherapy 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 certain treatments
that could benefit and affect the lives of the citizens of New York
State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorial-
ize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2014 as Cancer Immunother-
apy Month in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Each year, 14.1 million people worldwide are diagnosed with
cancer, 8.2 million of whom will die; that is one person every four
seconds; and
WHEREAS, This year alone, more than 107,000 New York residents will be
diagnosed with cancer, more than 34,000 of whom will die; and
WHEREAS, Cancer immunotherapy, treatments that harness and enhance the
innate powers of the immune system to fight cancer, represents the most
promising new cancer treatment approach since the development of the
first chemotherapies in the late 1940s; and
WHEREAS, Because of the immune system's extraordinary power, its
capacity for memory, its exquisite specificity, and its central and
universal role in human biology, these treatments have the potential to
achieve complete, long-lasting remissions and cancer cures, with few or
no side effects, and for any cancer patient, regardless of their cancer
type; and
WHEREAS, For 60 years, the Cancer Research Institute has been the
pioneer in advancing this highly promising new class of treatment;
because of this investment, cancer immunotherapy today is a highly
active and exciting field, with unprecedented potential to deliver on
the decades-long promise of discovering, developing, and delivering safe
and effective treatments that make a meaningful difference in the lives
of patients fighting the disease; and
WHEREAS, A series of events have been scheduled to take place through-
out the month of June to not only teach more about global efforts to
mobilize the immune system against cancer, but also to provide opportu-
nities for individuals to get involved and to help save the lives of
more cancer patients; and
WHEREAS, White Out Cancer Day is a day-long fundraising and awareness
event to be held on June 6, 2014, where individuals wear white in
support of Cancer Immunotherapy Month; in addition, "30 Days, 30
Stories" will feature patients who are alive because of cancer immunoth-
erapy and 45-minute free webinars will be offered featuring informative
updates from leaders in cancer immunotherapy; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
cancer immunotherapy, 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 Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2014 as Cancer
Immunotherapy Month in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.