[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN RECOGNITION OF MINORITY CANCER AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM DAVIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2004

  Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this week is National Minority 
Cancer Awareness Week. This national campaign was initiated by Congress 
in 1987 to heighten awareness of the unequal hardship of cancer borne 
by racial and ethnic minority populations and other medically 
underserved communities.
  Despite all the progress that has been made in the battle against 
cancer a disproportionate burden of cancer continues to plague a number 
of populations. For instance:
  African-American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the 
world and the lowest rate of survival. The head of the American Cancer 
Society, Charles J. McDonald, MD, says: ``Black men in America are 1.5 
times more likely to develop prostate cancer and are 2 to 3 times more 
likely to die of the disease than white men.''
  Cancer is the leading cause of death for Asian American women.
  Even controlling for poverty level, African American, American 
Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian American and Pacific Islander men all 
have a lower 5-year survival rate than non-Hispanic white males.
  The consequences of inadequate access to preventive services and 
early detection are that diseases like cancer are more often diagnosed 
at later stages when the severity is likely to be greater and options 
for treatment, as well as the odds of survival, are decreased.
  The American Cancer Society urges more education about all forms of 
cancer and stronger involvement of community grassroots organizations, 
particularly in underserved minority communities, to engage in advocacy 
and in education and patient support initiatives.
  I urge us all to heed the recommendations of the American Cancer 
Society because the future of America as a whole will be influenced 
substantially by our success in improving the health of minorities and 
other medically underserved populations.

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