ACR 161, as introduced, Waldron. Bladder Cancer Awareness Month.
This measure would proclaim the month of May 2016 as Bladder Cancer Awareness Month.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, Five hundred thousand families in the United States
2live with bladder cancer; and
3WHEREAS, More than 74,000 people in the United States are
4expected to be diagnosed with bladder cancer and 16,000 will die
5due to the disease in 2016 alone; and
6WHEREAS, Approximately 7,150 people will be newly
7diagnosed with bladder cancer in California this year and more
8than 1,500 Californians are expected to die of the disease; and
9WHEREAS, Bladder cancer affects adults of all ages and
10backgrounds and is the fifth most common nonskin cancer in the
11United States, exceeded only by breast, lung, prostate, and colon
12cancers, yet knowledge of the frequency and severity of bladder
13cancer is minimal; and
14WHEREAS, Bladder cancer is known as one of the most
15expensive cancers to treat on a per patient basis and has a
P2 1recurrence rate of approximately 50 to 80 percent, requiring
2lifelong surveillance; and
3WHEREAS, Bladder cancer symptoms, such as blood in the
4urine, are easily recognized, but many people are unaware of the
5threat of bladder cancer, often prolonging the time to diagnosis;
6and
7WHEREAS, If diagnosed early, bladder cancer is treatable; and
8WHEREAS, Military veterans are twice as likely as nonveterans
9to be diagnosed with bladder cancer; and
10WHEREAS, Women are often diagnosed at a later stage in the
11development of bladder cancer, and when diagnosed at the same
12stage as men, women have a worse prognosis; and
13WHEREAS, Smoking is the most well-established risk factor
14for bladder cancer, with the incidence of the disease three to four
15times greater in smokers than in nonsmokers; and
16WHEREAS, If diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the life
17expectancy of an individual with bladder cancer decreases; and
18WHEREAS, The quality of life of a person with bladder cancer
19will depend on future treatment and diagnostic developments,
20which will rely on research advancements; and
21WHEREAS, There have been no new treatments approved by
22the federal Food and Drug Administration for bladder cancer in
23over 10 years; and
24WHEREAS, Research advancements for bladder cancer are
25limited by lack of awareness about the disease within the medical
26community and general public; and
27WHEREAS, Increased awareness will promote early diagnosis
28and increase the chances of survival; and
29WHEREAS, Increased awareness will bolster public support of
30treatment of the disease and thus increase funding for innovative
31research and the development of new treatment options and
32diagnostic tools; and
33WHEREAS, Traditionally, in May of each year, survivors,
34caregivers, and loved ones walk together throughout the United
35States to raise awareness of bladder cancer; and
36WHEREAS, The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network and its
37community of patients, caregivers, and specialists seek to foster a
38community of hope and support, to fund and conduct research for
39innovative treatments and diagnostic tools, and to increase public
P3 1awareness and understanding of bladder cancer; now, therefore,
2be it
3Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
4thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the
5month of May 2016 as Bladder Cancer Awareness Month; and be
6it further
7Resolved, That the Legislature calls upon the people of
8California, interested groups, and affected persons to promote
9awareness of bladder cancer and to foster understanding of the
10impact of the disease on patients and their families and caregivers,
11to take an active role in the fight to end bladder cancer, and to
12observe Bladder Cancer Awareness Month with appropriate
13ceremonies and activities; and be it further
14Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
15of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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