[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 575 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 575

  Designating September 2014 as ``National Prostate Cancer Awareness 
                                Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 18, 2014

  Mr. Sessions (for himself, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Moran, Mrs. 
  Boxer, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
 Markey, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Wyden, 
   and Mr. Chambliss) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating September 2014 as ``National Prostate Cancer Awareness 
                                Month''.

Whereas over 2,900,000 families in the United States live with prostate cancer;
Whereas 1 in 7 males in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer 
        in their lifetimes;
Whereas prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer and the 
        second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among males in the United 
        States;
Whereas the National Cancer Institute estimates that, in 2014, 233,000 men will 
        be diagnosed with, and more than 29,000 men will die of, prostate 
        cancer;
Whereas 40 percent of newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases occur in males under 
        the age of 65;
Whereas approximately every 7.5 seconds, a male in the United States turns 50 
        years old and increases his odds of developing cancer, including 
        prostate cancer;
Whereas African-American males suffer from a prostate cancer incidence rate that 
        is up to 60 percent higher than that for white males and have double the 
        prostate cancer mortality rate than that of white males;
Whereas obesity is a significant predictor of the severity of prostate cancer;
Whereas the probability that obesity will lead to death and high cholesterol 
        levels is strongly associated with advanced prostate cancer;
Whereas males in the United States with 1 family member diagnosed with prostate 
        cancer have a 33 percent chance of being diagnosed with the disease, 
        males with 2 close family members diagnosed have an 83 percent chance, 
        and males with 3 family members diagnosed have a 97 percent chance;
Whereas screening by a digital rectal examination and a prostate-specific 
        antigen blood test can detect the disease in the early stages, 
        increasing the chances of survival for more than 5 years to nearly 100 
        percent;
Whereas only 33 percent of males survive more than 5 years if diagnosed with 
        prostate cancer after the cancer has metastasized;
Whereas there are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer while it is in the 
        early stages, making screening critical;
Whereas ongoing research promises further improvements in prostate cancer 
        prevention, early detection, and treatment; and
Whereas educating people in the United States, including health care providers, 
        about prostate cancer and early detection strategies is crucial to 
        saving the lives of males and preserving and protecting families: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates September 2014 as ``National Prostate Cancer 
        Awareness Month'';
            (2) declares that steps should be taken--
                    (A) to raise awareness about the importance of 
                screening methods for, and treatment of, prostate 
                cancer;
                    (B) to increase research funding to a level that is 
                commensurate with the burden of prostate cancer, so 
                that--
                            (i) screening and treatment for prostate 
                        cancer may be improved;
                            (ii) the causes of prostate cancer may be 
                        discovered; and
                            (iii) a cure for prostate cancer may be 
                        developed; and
                    (C) to continue to consider ways for improving 
                access to, and the quality of, health care services for 
                detecting and treating prostate cancer; and
            (3) calls on the people of the United States, interest 
        groups, and affected persons--
                    (A) to promote awareness of prostate cancer;
                    (B) to take an active role in the fight to end the 
                devastating effects of prostate cancer on individuals, 
                families, and the economy; and
                    (C) to observe National Prostate Cancer Awareness 
                Month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
                                 <all>