[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 154 (Thursday, November 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mr. Burns):
  S. 1389. A bill to amend title 39, United States Code, to allow 
postal patrons to contribute to funding for prostate cancer research 
through the voluntary purchase of certain specially issued U.S. postage 
stamps; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.


                 the prostate cancer research stamp act

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that 
would authorize the U.S. Postal Service to issue a special stamp to 
raise funds for prostate cancer research. It is time to fortify the 
battle against prostate cancer by educating the public about this 
disease, emphasizing the importance of annual screening, and bolstering 
our research efforts in order to find a cure.
  In the wake of National Prostate Cancer Awareness week, September, 
22-29, men and women from my home State of Maine are sharing their 
stories about this devastating disease and are calling for more 
prostate cancer research. Prostate cancer is the most common form of 
cancer in American men. The American Cancer Society estimates that 
334,500 cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 1997. Tragically, 
41,000 of these men will die from the disease--a number fast 
approaching the annual breast cancer death toll of 44,300. Between 1989 
and 1993, the prostate cancer incidence rate increased by 50 percent. 
Despite this dramatic surge in incidence, prostate cancer receives only 
a modest fraction, 3.7 percent, of the funding resources allocated to 
cancer. In fiscal year 1997, prostate cancer research funding was $96.2 
million, which is very low considering the number of lives this dreaded 
disease will rob each year.
  Advances made over the past 10 years to detect and treat prostate 
cancer have been significant, considering the fact that the digital 
rectal examination [DRE]--the primary tool for detecting prostate 
cancer which has been used for over 100 years--cannot detect small 
tumors or those on the side of the gland where approximately 40 percent 
of prostate cancers are located. Physicians have increased their use of 
the prostate-specific antigen, P.A. blood test which detects both 
aggressive and latent prostate cancers. The National Cancer Institute 
is conducting a multicenter trial to test whether or not early 
detection of prostate cancer by the DRE and P.A. will reduce prostate 
cancer mortality. Moreover, NCI's Prostate, Lung, Colon and Ovary 
Cancer Screening Trial [PLCO], which began in 1993, will eventually 
enroll 74,000 men over its 16 year duration. The trial will determine 
the relationships between P.A. levels, risk for prostate cancer, and 
the actual presence and size of prostate cancer in individual men. 
These advances will help lay a solid foundation for prostate cancer 
research into the 21st century.
  These developments are pivotal steps in the right direction. However, 
if we are going to eradicate this disease, much work needs to be done. 
We must continue the search for new techniques and methods of 
treatment. We must be relentless in emphasizing the importance of 
education and awareness. But most of all, we must find a cure. The 
lives of our fathers, sons, brothers, and friends depend on this 
effort.
  The Prostate Cancer Research Stamp Act would authorize a special 
first class stamp to be priced at up to 8 cents above the cost of 
normal first class postage. The stamp would be voluntarily purchased by 
postal patrons and the additional money raised by the sale of the stamp 
would be earmarked for prostate cancer research at the National Cancer 
Institutes. Perhaps most importantly, this special stamp would help 
bring the disease out into the open. By raising awareness, men of all 
ages will be reminded to educate themselves about early detection, 
screening, prevention and treatment of prostate cancer simply by 
visiting the post office.
  The ravages of prostate cancer--like all other cancers--are 
devastating to the lives of all family members. A stamp designed to 
garner additional research funds would not only help the hundreds of 
thousands of men who suffer from prostate cancer, but would also remind 
men to seek regular screening. It is going to take a collective effort 
to find a cure. But if we all play a small role, the investment in this 
valuable research will pay off and we will be one step closer to 
winning the battle against prostate cancer.
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