Bill Text: CA SCR17 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-09-14 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 88, Statutes of 2011. [SCR17 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SCR17-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SCR 17	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator La Malfa

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2011

   Relative to Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 17, as introduced, 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 new cases of the disease in the United States were predicted
for 2010, resulting in nearly 32,050 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 predicted to
be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010 and each day more than
eight 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 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 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.