[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE JUNE AS MEN'S CANCER AWARENESS 
                                 MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 15, 2015

  Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight an issue of 
growing concern to this nation: cancer among men, by introducing a 
resolution recognizing June as Men's Cancer Awareness Month.
  Cancer is a deadly disease that does not discriminate. It impacts all 
demographics and every segment of our population. However, what I find 
extremely alarming is that cancer is claiming the lives of males of all 
races and ages at an alarming rate. One in 2 men will be diagnosed with 
cancer over the course of their lifetimes. Men face a 43.31 percent 
lifetime risk of being diagnosed with some form of cancer. Statistics 
show that men have a 22.83 percent chance of dying from cancer versus 
19.26 percent of women. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates 
that nearly 300,000 men die annually as a result of cancer. 
Furthermore, African American men have the highest cancer incidence and 
mortality rates according to the CDC.
  I ask my fellow Members of Congress to join me in shining a light on 
this deadly disease that is plaguing the men of our communities. These 
men are our fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles, sons, grandsons, 
and nephews. Recognizing and preventing men's health problems is not 
just an issue facing men, it also has a profound impact on the lives of 
wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, and is truly a family issue. No 
one should ever be put in a position to have to prematurely bury their 
loved one.
  Additionally, there are a number of consistent gender differences in 
cancer susceptibility. In fact, gender differences in cancer 
susceptibility are rarely publicized and often inadequately addressed. 
There are a number of common cancers that have the highest male-to-
female (M:F) ratios, including colorectal cancers; cancers of the lung 
and bronchus; non-Hodgkin lymphoma, urinary and bladder cancers, and 
most alarming Kaposi sarcoma.
  I was inspired to introduce this resolution by a constituent from my 
district, Mr. Joel Greshman, who founded the Not 1 Forgotten campaign 
in 2013, after losing two close friends and family members to cancer. 
Joel created the organization to encourage men to get regular check-ups 
in order to stay healthy and live longer. By joining Joel and others 
across the nation to bring greater awareness of cancer among men, it is 
my sincere hope that we can work together to better promote expanded 
advocacy, media campaigns and other events. The Not 1 Forgotten 
campaign has gained momentum in states and cities across our nation 
from Fort Lauderdale located in my Congressional district to Atlanta, 
Augusta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami Dade County, and New 
York.
  The purpose of Men's Cancer Awareness Month is to heighten awareness 
and encourage early detection and treatment of cancer among men and 
boys.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critically 
important resolution and recognize June as Men's Cancer Awareness 
Month.

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