[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 149 (Thursday, September 18, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9039-S9040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 667--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2008 AS ``NATIONAL 
                   PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mr. SESSIONS (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Chambliss, Mrs. Clinton, 
Mr. Inouye, Mr. Vitter, Ms. Collins, Ms. Snowe, Mrs. Dole, Mrs. Boxer, 
Mr. Grassley, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Inhofe, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
Stevens, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Barrasso, Ms. Stabenow, 
Mr. Bunning, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Specter, Mr. 
Dodd, Mr. Cochran, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Brownback, Mr. 
Warner, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Baucus, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Levin, Mr. Hatch, Mr. 
Menendez, Mr. Casey, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Isakson 
and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 667

       Whereas countless families in the United States live with 
     prostate cancer;
       Whereas 1 in 6 men in the United States will be diagnosed 
     with prostate cancer in his lifetime;
       Whereas prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-
     skin cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-
     related deaths among men in the United States;
       Whereas, in 2008, over 186,320 men in the United States 
     will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 28,660 men in the 
     United States will die of prostate cancer;
       Whereas 30 percent of new diagnoses of prostate cancer 
     occur in men under the age of 65;
       Whereas a man in the United States turns 50 years old about 
     every 14 seconds, increasing his odds of developing cancer, 
     including prostate cancer;
       Whereas African-American males suffer a prostate cancer 
     incidence rate up to 65 percent higher than White males and 
     double the mortality rates;
       Whereas obesity is a significant predictor of the severity 
     of prostate cancer and the probability that the disease will 
     lead to death, and high cholesterol levels are strongly 
     associated with advanced prostate cancer;
       Whereas, if a man in the United States has 1 family member 
     diagnosed with prostate cancer, he has a 1 in 3 chance of 
     being diagnosed with prostate cancer, if he has 2 family 
     members with such diagnoses, he has an 83 percent risk, and 
     if he has 3 family members with such diagnoses, he then has a 
     97 percent risk of prostate cancer;
       Whereas screening by both a digital rectal examination 
     (DRE) and a prostate specific antigen blood test (PSA) can 
     diagnose the disease in its early stages, increasing the 
     chances of surviving more than 5 years to nearly 100 percent, 
     while only 33 percent of men survive more than 5 years if 
     diagnosed during the late stages of the disease;
       Whereas there are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer 
     while it is still in the early stages, making screening 
     critical;
       Whereas ongoing research promises further improvements in 
     prostate cancer prevention, early detection, and treatments; 
     and
       Whereas educating people in the United States, including 
     health care providers, about prostate cancer and early 
     detection

[[Page S9040]]

     strategies is crucial to saving the lives of men and 
     preserving and protecting families: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 2008 as ``National Prostate Cancer 
     Awareness Month'';
       (2) declares that the Federal Government has a 
     responsibility--
       (A) to raise awareness about the importance of screening 
     methods for, and treatment of, prostate cancer;
       (B) to increase research funding that is commensurate with 
     the burden of the disease so that the screening and treatment 
     of prostate cancer may be improved, and so that the causes 
     of, and a cure for, prostate cancer may be discovered; 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, interested 
     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, their 
     families, and the economy; and
       (C) to observe National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month 
     with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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