[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H4245-H4246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL MEN'S HEALTH WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ballenger). Under the Speaker's 
announced policy of January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Foley) is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I have just returned from Florida and had my 
usual town hall meeting where we have a chance to discuss issues of the 
day with our constituents, and one of the things I find myself 
frequently talking about is health care, the cost of health care, the 
spiraling cost of health care and its impact on the human spirit and 
the human condition.
  Regrettably, in society, we are spending a lot of time finding ways 
to spend money after disease onsets the human body. We talk about 
prostate cancer after the fact rather than PSA tests that could quickly 
arrest prostate cancer in the early beginning.
  I found myself this morning reading a magazine on my flight from 
Florida, Men's Health, and I see a new nationwide survey reveals that 
men are not only avoiding important health checks, they are 
significantly behind women in the awareness of the importance of 
preventive health care. A nationwide survey conducted for Men's Health 
Magazine and CNN by Opinion Research Corporation finds that 1 in 10 or 
approximately 7 million men have avoided getting regular health exams 
for more than a decade. Over all, slightly more than 15 million men 
have not had a basic health check in over 15 years.
  Let us talk about some of the statistics affecting men's health. An 
estimated 184,500 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 
1998. At least an estimated 2.5 million men, or

[[Page H4246]]

one-third of all men with diabetes, do not even know they have the 
disease. Despite advances in medical technology and research, the life 
expectancy of men continues to be an average of 7 years less than 
women.
  Nearly 120,000 men aged 25 to 64 died from heart disease or stroke in 
1995. The death rate of men from prostate cancer has increased by 23 
percent since 1973. Twenty-seven percent of men will die within one 
year after having a heart attack.
  In 1997, the bulk of government funding for breast cancer research 
was approximately $332 million; for prostate cancer, $82.3 million. An 
estimated 39,200 men will die of prostate cancer in 1998. It is the 
second leading cause of cancer death in men.
  Women visit doctors 30 percent more than men do. In 1995, nearly 
three-fourths of heart transplant patients in the United States were 
male and over 30 percent of men in the United States are overweight.
  Why do I reveal these statistics? Because it is vitally important 
that America get healthy. One simple change would be encouraging men to 
take an active role, as women do, in regularly visiting their physician 
for basic treatment and examinations. The rate of male mortality could 
significantly be reduced if we would encourage men to seek treatment 
before symptoms have reached a critical stage.
  For example, a good friend of mine, Senator Bob Dole, is alive today 
because he sought early care for prostate cancer. Others, such as 
Muppet creator, Jim Henson, and Time-Warner Chair, Steve Ross, waited 
far too long for medical advice.
  Now, in 1994, Congress inaugurated National Men's Health Week, which 
begins this year on June 15 and culminates on Father's Day, June 21.
  Why is it vitally important that men become more aware of their 
health care needs? First and foremost for their longevity. Secondly, 
for the quality of life. Thirdly, as we look at the Federal budget and 
the growth of funding in Medicare and other programs, it is vitally 
important to rein in the costs of spending. It is much better in 
society for us to take preventive measures, to look at the healthy 
aspect of life, to look at ways to prevent the onslaught of disease by 
doing several things: One, exercise; one, controlling fat intake; one, 
obviously eliminating smoking as part of one's lifestyle; minimizing 
drinking. All of these things can be accomplished.
  In addition for this week, nongender-specific issues such as heart 
disease, cholesterol count, blood pressure; specific health issues that 
deal with men such as stroke, colon cancer, prostate cancer, suicide, 
alcoholism, and men's fear of doctors, among others, should be focused 
on.
  What will a week's difference make in the scheme of things? What will 
the difference in June 15 to June 21 yield? Well, when the problems of 
women's breast cancer and its rising rates became apparent over the 
past several years, the designation of October as National Breast 
Cancer Awareness Month enabled a broad collation of health 
organizations, associations, individual groups and the media to focus 
on the vital role simple steps such as breast exams can play in 
preventing this deadly disease. As a result, more women than ever 
before are taking steps to detect and treat breast cancer in its 
earlier stages, thereby sustaining their life and preventing the 
onslaught of a ravaging disease.

  By developing an entire week on the broad range of health issues 
affecting men and ultimately their families, National Men's Health Week 
attempts to achieve the same positive behavioral changes among men that 
is already being undertaken by women.
  So I urge men to follow the advice, read up on publications, try and 
exercise in order to preserve their health and, obviously, their 
family's.

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