BILL NUMBER: SCR 17	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  SEPTEMBER 8, 2011
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 7, 2011
	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, 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.



   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
240,890 new cases of the disease in the United States are predicted
for 2011, resulting in nearly 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
more likely to develop this disease than any other group of men; and
   WHEREAS, In California, approximately 25,030 men are predicted to
be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011 and each day more than 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 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 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 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 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 encourages public officials and citizens of California
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.