BILL NUMBER: SCR 24	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hernandez

                        MARCH 13, 2013

   Relative to National Multicultural Cancer Awareness Week.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 24, as introduced, Hernandez. National Multicultural Cancer
Awareness Week.
   This measure would designate the week of April 15 to 21, 2013, as
"National Multicultural Cancer Awareness Week," and would encourage
the promotion of policies and programs that seek to reduce cancer
disparities and improve cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and
followup care for all Californians.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, National Multicultural Cancer Awareness Week has been
observed across the country each year since 1987 to bring attention
to the disparities of cancer among medically underserved populations;
and
   WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society is participating in National
Multicultural Cancer Awareness Week to point out the disparities in
cancer burdens and to encourage public and private sector commitments
in helping eliminate these disparities; and
   WHEREAS, California is the most populous and ethnically and
culturally diverse state in the country, and thus, is in a position
to provide leadership for the nation to address the reduction of the
incidence of cancer among all races and genders; and
   WHEREAS, In California, disparities exist in knowledge about
cancer, cancer survival, and access to early detection, high-quality
treatment, health care coverage, and health care. Social inequities
also exist, including differences in occupational hazards,
environmental exposures to pollution and other toxins, access to
education, nutrition, physical activity, safe neighborhoods, healthy
food options, and other factors that contribute to an increased or
reduced risk of cancer; and
   WHEREAS, The risk of developing and dying from cancer varies
considerably among different cultural populations in California. The
medically underserved are often diagnosed at later stages, and with a
higher incidence of cancers with higher mortality, like lung cancer,
and are more likely to receive delayed health care; and
   WHEREAS, Cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanics,
Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders and is the second leading
cause of death for most other Californians; and
   WHEREAS, In California, African American males have the highest
overall cancer incidence and mortality rates. African American women
are more likely to die of breast cancer, although non-Hispanic white
women are the most likely to be diagnosed with the disease. African
Americans have substantially higher rates of cancers of the stomach,
small intestine, liver, and larynx, myeloma, and Kaposi's sarcoma
than non-Hispanic whites. African American men are at especially high
risk for prostate cancer, more than any other racial and ethnic
group; and
   WHEREAS, In California, lung cancer is the most common cancer
among Laotian and Vietnamese men, while prostate cancer is the most
common cancer for men in most other ethnic groups. Colorectal cancer
is the most common cancer among Kampuchean and Korean men. Despite an
overall statewide decline in colorectal cancer rates from 1988-2008,
incidence sharply increased among Koreans and Vietnamese. Asian
Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics have substantially higher
rates of liver and stomach cancer than other groups. Vietnamese
women have much higher rates of cervical cancer than non-Hispanic
white women. Asian Americans have among the lowest rates of screening
for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers. There remains a lack
of data about factors related to cancer, cancer control, and
effective interventions among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders;
and
   WHEREAS, In California, Latinos have substantially higher rates of
stomach and liver cancers than other Californians. Latinos have
higher rates of acute lymphocytic leukemia and cervical cancer than
non-Hispanic whites. Latinos have the highest likelihood of being
uninsured, which can create serious barriers to screenings, early
detection, and treatment. Latino women have the highest risk of
developing cervical cancer, significantly higher, than non-Hispanic
white women, African American women, Asian American women and Pacific
Islander women; and
   WHEREAS, Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
community are at greater risk for cancer, face specific challenges
accessing quality health care because of insurance policies that fail
to cover same-sex partners, and may hesitate to access health care
because of previous discrimination in health care settings. Lesbians
have fewer mammograms, pelvic examinations, and Pap smear tests than
heterosexual women. There remains a lack of data about factors
related to cancer, cancer control, and effective interventions in the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community; now, therefore,
be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares the week of April
15 to 21, 2013, inclusive, as "National Multicultural Cancer
Awareness Week," and encourages the promotion of policies and
programs that seek to reduce cancer disparities and, as a result,
improve cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and followup care
for all Californians; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
                                                ____ CORRECTIONS
Text-Pages 2, and 3.
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