Senate Concurrent Resolution
No. 14
CHAPTER 73
Relative to Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
July 16, 2009.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 14, Aanestad.
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
This measure would designate the month of September 2009 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the State of California and would encourage public officials and citizens to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
YES WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that one in six men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime and that there will be over 192,000 new cases of the disease in the United States in the current year, resulting in over 27,000 deaths; and
WHEREAS, In California, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in all race and ethnic groups. African American men are 45 percent more likely to develop this disease than any other group of men; and
WHEREAS, In California, approximately 18,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and each day more than eight California men will die of this disease; and
WHEREAS, While prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in men, little is known about this disease and there are usually no symptoms in the early stages; and
WHEREAS, The survival rate approaches 100 percent when prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated early, but drops to 32 percent when the disease spreads to other parts of the body; and
WHEREAS, Early detection is key to survival and the American Cancer Society recommends that every man should be offered screening tests determined by his age and risk factor, including an annual prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination (DRE); and
WHEREAS, Men who have several close relatives who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age should begin their testing at 40 years of age; and
WHEREAS, Men who have a father, son, or brother who was diagnosed with prostate cancer before 65 years of age, and all African American men, should begin testing at 45 years of age; and
WHEREAS, Other men should begin testing at 50 years of age if they have a life expectancy of at least an additional 10 years; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates the month of September 2009 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the State of California and that public officials and citizens of California are encouraged to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature joins communities across our nation to increase the awareness of the importance of early detection and treatment of prostate cancer; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.