Brain Tumor Awareness Month

Proclamation
By the Governor of Alabama
WHEREAS, the brain directs involuntary actions like breathing, blinking, thinking, and swallowing, it also controls our senses, personality, memory, walking, talking, toileting, and profoundly impacts both the ability for life, and quality of life, for the patient and caregiver; and
WHEREAS, a primary brain tumor (meaning the tumor originates in the brain) diagnosis does not discriminate, it can afflict men, women, and children of all races and ethnicities; it has changed the life of over 700,000 people in the United States who are living with a primary brain tumor and it is estimated it will be deadly for 18,000 who will die from a malignant brain tumor diagnosis in 2017; and;
WHEREAS, a metastatic brain tumor (meaning the tumor originates in the body and spreads to the brain) diagnosis also does not discriminate, it can afflict men, women, and children of all races and ethnicities; it has changed the life of an average of 25-40% of all patients effected by cancers (e.g., breast, lung, skin, colon cancers) (roughly 10 x more common than primary brain tumors). Millions of people in the United States are living with a metastatic brain tumor and it is estimated it will be deadly for almost half in 2017; and
WHEREAS, a brain tumor profoundly impacts the lives of patients and caregivers, it is imperative we increase public awareness of this disease, its life altering impact, and its treatment options, through research, advocacy programs, and education programs, as well as generate a call to action in support of finding a cure; and
WHEREAS, despite the fact there are only four (4) FDA approved drugs to treat primary brain tumors, and despite that there are no FDA approved drugs exclusively for patients with metastatic brain tumors, one of the most important things a brain tumor patient can do is to surround themselves with doctors dedicated to brain tumor specialty treatments and care and aggressively seek education and support for themselves and their caregivers through local organizations like the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation or national organizations like the American Brain Tumor Association and the National Brain Tumor Society in efforts to generate a greater awareness of this disease, to uncover resources and services, and to band together to spearhead and advance treatments, research and support;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kay Ivey, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim the month of May, 2017, as
Brain Tumor Awareness Month
in the State of Alabama.
Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 1st day of May 2017.
Kay Ivey
Governor