Reps. Wittenberg, Brinks, Chirkun, Clemente, Cochran, Elder, Ellison, Faris, Geiss, Greig, Howrylak, Hughes, Jones, Liberati, Love, Sneller and Sowerby offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 128.

            A resolution to declare July 9-15, 2017, as Sarcoma Awareness Week and July 15, 2017, as Leiomyosarcoma Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, A soft tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer, accounting for approximately 1 percent of all newly diagnosed cancers, that arises in the connective tissue of the body; and

            Whereas, The National Institutes of Health designates sarcoma as a rare form of cancer, with sarcoma containing approximately 70 different subtypes; and

            Whereas, Sarcomas are largely resistant to current chemotherapy agents, immunotherapy agents, and radiation therapies, posing a formidable challenge for researchers and specialists; and

            Whereas, Sarcoma subtypes have largely not received benefit from immunotherapies due to the complexity of the DNA, genomes, and mutations associated with the many variations in the sarcoma subtype landscape; and

            Whereas, Leiomyosarcoma (referred to in this preamble as “LMS”) is a malignant, aggressive subtype of soft tissue sarcoma derived from smooth muscle cells typically of uterine, gastrointestinal or soft tissue origin, and can metastasize to the bone, spine, brain, and liver; and

            Whereas, The National Institutes of Health classifies LMS as a rare disease, accounting for approximately 15 percent of all sarcomas, and LMS itself encompasses at least four different LMS subtypes within; and

            Whereas, LMS primarily affects adults, there are no gender boundaries, and research and clinical trials remain complicated and the survival and longevity remains difficult; and

            Whereas, Multidisciplinary care coordination teams, because of their expertise and experience, are critical to the health of sarcoma and LMS patients; and

            Whereas, Sarcoma and LMS research will allow medical professionals to improve the quality of care for affected patients, lead to better clinical outcomes, and promote longer survival for patients; and

            Whereas, Increased education and awareness about sarcoma and LMS will contribute to the wellbeing of the communities of the United States; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare  July 9-15, 2017, as Sarcoma Awareness Week and July 15, 2017, as Leiomyosarcoma Awareness Day in the state of Michigan. We recognize the challenges faced by sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma patients, and commends the dedication of organizations, volunteers, researchers, and caregivers across the country working to improve the quality of life of sarcoma and leiomyosarcoma patients and their families.