JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 31

 

A Joint Resolution permanently designating January as “NUT Carcinoma Awareness Month” in New Jersey.

 

Whereas, NUT carcinoma, formerly known as NUT midline carcinoma, is a rare, genetically defined, aggressive squamous cell epithelial cancer; and

Whereas, NUT carcinoma is characterized by a chromosomal rearrangement in the nuclear protein of the testis gene (a DNA-binding protein encoded by the SRY gene that is responsible for the initiation of male sex determination in humans); and

Whereas, This form of cancer typically affects boys, although the first documented case of the disease was a 12 year old girl, and sometimes presents in adults; and

Whereas, NUT carcinoma occurs in the midline of the body, including the head, neck, and thoracic cavity, and may involve the nostrils, epiglottis, sinuses, and bladder; and

Whereas, Symptoms of NUT carcinoma are similar to other cancers, and dependent on the stage of the cancer.  While generalized symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue may occur, tumors in the head, neck, and the thoracic cavity region are more specific to this form of cancer; and

Whereas, NUT carcinoma is very resistant to standard chemotherapy treatments, and once diagnosed with this form of cancer, the average survival rate is nine months; and

Whereas, Benjamin Landel was born to Rob and Tricia Landel on  November 12, 1999 in Ridgewood New Jersey ; and

Whereas, A Ramapo High School soccer and track star, Ben was diagnosed with NUT carcinoma at the age of 17; and

Whereas, Ben was a determined, courageous, confident, and inspiring teenager who overcame many obstacles while battling cancer; and

Whereas, In response to his diagnosis, his coach and teammates created a social media fundraising campaign, the “Ben Landel Cross Bar Challenge”; and

Whereas, The campaign went viral and attracted high-profile supporters such as Carli Lloyd, a member of the United States Women’s Soccer Team.  A GoFundMe campaign tied to the challenge raised nearly $43,000 for Ben’s medical bills; and

Whereas, Although Ben spent the last nine months of his life enduring multiple surgeries and chemotherapy, when his parents asked him what he wanted for Christmas, he asked that a portion of the money raised for his treatment be donated to pediatric cancer research; and

Whereas, Although NUT carcinoma is an aggressive and usually fatal disease, new surgical treatments and radiotherapy regimens are improving survival rates; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

C.36:2-388  “NUT Carcinoma Awareness Month,” January; designated.

     1.    The month of January shall be permanently designated as “NUT Carcinoma Awareness Month” in the State of New Jersey in order to raise public awareness about this aggressive form of cancer and the new treatment regimens that are improving survival rates, and to honor the inspiring life of Benjamin Landel whose generosity led him to help others who were undergoing their own battles with cancer.

 

C.36:2-389  Annual observance.

     2.    The Governor is respectively requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing January as “NUT Carcinoma Awareness Month” in New Jersey, and calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.

 

     3.    Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Matthew Larson Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer.

 

     4.  This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

 

     Approved January 21, 2020.