BILL NUMBER: SCR 17	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator La Malfa

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2011

   Relative to Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 17, as amended, La Malfa. Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
   This measure would designate the month of September 2011 as
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the State of California.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, Prostate cancer impacts all Californians and has touched
the Senate of the State of California last year with the passing of
Senator Dave Cox after a 13-year battle with the disease; and
   WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that one in six men
will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. Approximately
 217,730   240,890  new cases of the
disease in the United States  were   are 
predicted for  2010   2011  , resulting in
nearly  32,050   33,720  deaths; and
   WHEREAS, In California, prostate cancer is the most common cancer
among men in all race and ethnic groups. African American men are
 50 percent  more likely to develop this disease
than any other group of men; and
   WHEREAS, In California, approximately  20,120 men were
  25,030 men are  predicted to be diagnosed with
prostate cancer in  2010   2011  and each
day more than  eight   11  California men
will die of this disease; and
   WHEREAS, While prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths
in men, little is known about this disease and there are usually no
symptoms in the early stages; and
   WHEREAS, The survival rate approaches 100 percent when prostate
cancer is diagnosed and treated early, but drops to  31
  30  percent when the disease spreads to other
parts of the body; and
   WHEREAS, A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a
digital rectal examination (DRE) diagnose most prostate cancers
before symptoms develop; and
   WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society recommends that health care
providers offer the PSA and DRE  annually  to men
who have at least a 10-year life expectancy, beginning when the men
are 50 years of age; and
   WHEREAS, Men who have a father, son, or brother who has been
diagnosed with prostate cancer before 65 years of age, and African
American men should be offered a PSA and DRE  annually
 beginning when they are 45 years of age; and
   WHEREAS, Men who have multiple family members who have been
diagnosed with prostate cancer before 65 years of age should be
offered a PSA and DRE  annually  beginning when they
are 40 years of age; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates the month of
September 2011 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the State of
California and  that   encourages  public
officials and citizens of California  are encouraged
 to observe the month with appropriate activities and
programs; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature joins communities across our nation
to increase the awareness of the importance of early detection and
treatment of prostate cancer; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.