[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 126 (Wednesday, August 5, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S6405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 248--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2015 AS ``NATIONAL 
                   PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mr. SESSIONS (for himself, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Vitter, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Moran, Mrs. Boxer, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Cardin, Mr. King, Mr. 
Blunt, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Boozman) submitted the following resolution; 
which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 248

       Whereas over 2,900,000 families in the United States live 
     with prostate cancer;
       Whereas 1 in 7 males in the United States will be diagnosed 
     with prostate cancer in their lifetimes;
       Whereas prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-
     skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related 
     deaths among males in the United States;
       Whereas in 2015, the National Cancer Institute estimates 
     that 220,800 men will be diagnosed with, and more than 27,000 
     men will die of, prostate cancer;
       Whereas 40 percent of newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases 
     occur in males under the age of 65;
       Whereas the odds of developing prostate cancer rise rapidly 
     after age 50;
       Whereas African-American males suffer from a prostate 
     cancer incidence rate that is significantly higher than White 
     males and have double the prostate cancer mortality rate of 
     White males;
       Whereas obesity is a significant predictor of the severity 
     of prostate cancer;
       Whereas the probability that obesity will lead to death and 
     high cholesterol levels is strongly associated with advanced 
     prostate cancer;
       Whereas having a father or brother with prostate cancer 
     more than doubles the risk of a man developing prostate 
     cancer, with a particularly high risk for men who have a 
     brother with the disease;
       Whereas screening by a digital rectal examination and a 
     prostate-specific antigen blood test can detect the disease 
     at the earlier, more treatable stages, which could increase 
     the chances of survival for more than 5 years to nearly 100 
     percent;
       Whereas only 38 percent of males survive more than 5 years 
     if diagnosed with prostate cancer after the cancer has 
     metastasized;
       Whereas there are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer 
     while prostate cancer is in the early stages, making 
     appropriate screening critical;
       Whereas ongoing research promises further improvements in 
     prostate cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment; 
     and
       Whereas educating people in the United States, including 
     health care providers, about prostate cancer and early 
     detection strategies is crucial to saving the lives of males 
     and preserving and protecting families: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 2015 as ``National Prostate Cancer 
     Awareness Month'';
       (2) declares that steps should be taken--
       (A) to raise awareness about the importance of screening 
     methods for, and treatment of, prostate cancer;
       (B) to encourage research so that screening and treatment 
     for prostate cancer may be improved, the causes of prostate 
     cancer may be discovered, and a cure for prostate cancer may 
     be developed; 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, interest 
     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, 
     families, and the economy; and
       (C) to observe National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month 
     with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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