Sinema’s bipartisan resolution, cosponsored by Senator Kelly, marks July 21, 2021 as National Glioblastoma Awareness Day
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate passed Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s bipartisan resolution designating July 21st as Glioblastoma Awareness Day, honoring the legacy of Arizona Senator John S. McCain III, who passed away in 2018 from brain cancer. The resolution, introduced with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (S.C.), calls for a greater national effort to advance treatment options, caregiving, and general care for brain cancers. Arizona Senator Mark Kelly cosponsored Sinema’s bipartisan resolution.
“John McCain serves as a constant inspiration to me and so many Arizonans. Our resolution honors him and other Americans battling this disease, and urges the nation to advance new treatments for glioblastoma and all brain cancers,” said Sinema.
Sinema’s bipartisan resolution honors the individuals who have lost their lives to glioblastoma and those who are currently living with it, and supports efforts to develop better treatments for glioblastoma that will improve the long-term prognosis of individuals.
In 2020, the National Cancer Institute established the Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network infrastructure to enhance and support the discovery and development of glioblastoma therapies. Sinema’s resolution newly includes a call to support continued federal investments into the Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network.
Glioblastoma is the most malignant brain tumor, accounting for 48% of all primary malignant tumors, and is the most aggressive, complex, difficult to treat, and deadly type of brain tumor. It is estimated that more than 10,000 individuals in the United States will succumb to glioblastoma every year. The survival rate for glioblastoma patients is only 6.8% and the average length of survival is estimated to be only 12 to 18 months.