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