Proclaim Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Senate Resolution No. 260 BY: Senator RIVERA MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 2019, as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this Legislative Body to recognize official months dedicated to raising awareness of serious concerns impacting citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 2019, as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to educating people in the United States, including health care providers, about prostate cancer and the early detection strategies that have proven to be essential to the lives of those battling prostate cancer; and WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated roughly 174,650 new cases and 31,620 deaths due to prostate cancer in the United States for 2019; as for New York State, each year their are about 14,000 new cases and 1,700 deaths due to prostate cancer; and WHEREAS, Remaining the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths amongst American men, prostate cancer statistics show that one out of every seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime; and WHEREAS, Prostate cancer can remain symptomless for years; there is often no way to detect prostate cancer in its early stages except through specific tests done by a trained professional; and WHEREAS, The most clearly established risk factors for prostate cancer are age, race, family history, and high-fat diets; more than 65 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65, and in 2016, black men had 70% more new cases of prostate cancer than white men and were nearly 2.4 times more likely to die from the disease; conversely, Asian men who live in Asia have the lowest risk; and WHEREAS, There are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer while it is still in the early stages, making screening critical; and WHEREAS, Screening by both a digital rectal examination (DRE) and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test can diagnose the disease in its early stages, increasing the chances of surviving more than five years to nearly 100 percent, while only 33 percent of men survive more than five years if diagnosed during the late stages of the disease; and WHEREAS, The observance of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month has contributed to a dramatic increase in awareness among the general population about the importance of early detection, benefiting millions of men and helping to save thousands of lives; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 2019, as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.