[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 669 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                         June 14, 2004.
Whereas, in 2004, it is estimated that approximately 230,000 new cases of 
        prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States, and nearly 
        30,000 men in the United States will die from prostate cancer;
Whereas prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in 
        the United States;
Whereas over $4,700,000,000 is spent annually in the United States in direct 
        treatment costs for prostate cancer;
Whereas African American men are diagnosed with and die from prostate cancer 
        more frequently than men of other ethnic backgrounds;
Whereas increased education among health care providers and patients regarding 
        the need for prostate cancer screening tests has resulted in the 
        diagnosis of approximately 86 percent of prostate cancer patients before 
        the cancerous cells have spread appreciably beyond the prostate gland, 
        thereby enhancing the odds of successful treatment;
Whereas the potential complication rates for significant side effects vary among 
        the most common forms of treatment for prostate cancer;
Whereas prostate cancer often strikes elderly people in the United States, 
        highlighting the importance of balancing the potential benefits and 
        risks of various treatments on an individual basis; and
Whereas Congress as a whole, and Members of Congress as individuals, are in 
        unique positions to support the fight against prostate cancer, to help 
        raise public awareness about the need to make screening tests available 
        to all people at risk for prostate cancer, and to provide prostate 
        cancer patients with adequate information to assess the relative 
        benefits and risks of treatment options: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) national and community organizations and health care providers 
        have played a commendable role in supplying information concerning the 
        importance of screening for prostate cancer and the treatment options 
        for patients with prostate cancer; and
            (2) the Federal Government and the States should ensure that health 
        care providers supply prostate cancer patients with appropriate 
        information and any other tools necessary for prostate cancer patients 
        to receive readily understandable descriptions of the advantages, 
        disadvantages, benefits, and risks of all medically efficacious 
        treatments for prostate cancer, including brachytherapy, hormonal 
        treatments, external beam radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and watchful 
        waiting.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.