BILL NUMBER: ACR 142	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  30
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  MAY 24, 2012
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  MAY 21, 2012
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 19, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 19, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Alejo
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Blumenfield,
Bonilla, Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon,
Campos, Carter, Chesbro, Davis, Dickinson, Eng, Feuer, Fong, Fuentes,
Galgiani, Gatto, Gordon, Hall, Hayashi, Roger Hernández, Hill,
Huber, Hueso, Huffman, Lara, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Mitchell,
Monning, Nestande, Pan, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Portantino, Skinner,
Smyth, Swanson, Torres, Wieckowski, Williams, and Yamada)

                        APRIL 12, 2012

   Relative to National Multicultural Cancer Awareness Week.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 142, Alejo. National Multicultural Cancer Awareness Week.
   This measure would designate the week of April 15 to 21, 2012, 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.



   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. Systemic inequities
also exist, including differences in occupational hazards,
environmental exposures to pollution and other toxins, access to
education, nutrition, physical activity, safe neighborhoods, healthy
foods, 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 lower quality health care; 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,
liver, 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, Asian and Pacific Islanders are the only
racial and ethnic group within which cancer is the leading cause of
death. Lung cancer is the most common cancer among Laotian women,
while breast cancer is the most common cancer among women of all
racial and ethnic groups. Lung cancer is the most common cancer among
Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese men, while prostate cancer is the
most common cancer for men in most ethnic groups. Colorectal cancer
incidence from 1988 to 2007 increased among Korean men and among
Korean, Filipino, and South Asian women, while incidence among other
Asian Americans declined. Asian and Pacific Islanders and Latinos
have substantially higher rates of liver and stomach cancer than
other groups. Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese women have much
higher rates of cervical cancer than non-Hispanic white women. Samoan
and Tongan women have higher rates of cancers than non-Hispanic
white women. Stomach and liver cancers are among the top five cancers
in most Asian and Pacific Islander groups. Asian Americans have
among the lowest rates of screening for breast, cervical, and
colorectal cancers. A significant number of Korean Americans have
never heard of the pap smear test. There remains a lack of data about
factors related to cancer, cancer control, and effective
interventions among Asian 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, Kaposi's sarcoma, and
cervical cancer than non-Hispanic whites. Cancer is the second
leading cause of death for Latinos. Latinos have the highest
likelihood of being uninsured. Latino women have the highest risk of
developing cervical cancer, which is about twice as high as
non-Hispanic white women, African American women, and Asian 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 Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares the week of April
15 to 21, 2012, 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 Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.