III
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 493
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 14, 2012
Mr. Kerry (for himself, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Akaka, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
RESOLUTION
Recognizing that the occurrence of prostate cancer in African-American men has reached epidemic proportions and urging Federal agencies to address that health crisis by supporting education, awareness outreach, and research specifically focused on how prostate cancer affects African-American men.
Whereas the incidence of prostate cancer in African-American men is more than one and a half times higher than in any other racial or ethnic group in the United States;
Whereas African-American men have the highest mortality rate of any ethnic and racial group in the United States, dying at a rate that is approximately two and a half times higher than other ethnic and racial groups;
Whereas that rate of mortality represents the largest disparity of mortality rates in any of the major cancers;
Whereas prostate cancer can be cured with early detection and the proper treatment, regardless of the ethnic or racial group of the cancer patient;
Whereas African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed at an earlier age and at a later stage of cancer progression than all other ethnic and racial groups, leading to lower cure rates and lower chances of survival;
Whereas, for cases diagnosed early, studies show a 5-year survival rate of nearly 100 percent, but the survival rate drops significantly to 28 percent for cases diagnosed in late stages; and
Whereas recent genomics research has increased the ability to identify men at high risk for aggressive prostate cancer: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
recognizes that prostate cancer has created a health crisis for African-American men;
recognizes the importance of health coverage and access to care, as well as promoting informed decisionmaking between men and their doctors, taking into consideration the known risks and potential benefits of screening and treatment options for prostate cancer;
urges Federal agencies to support—
research to address and attempt to end the health crisis created by prostate cancer;
efforts relating to education, awareness, and early detection at the grassroots level to end that health crisis; and
the Office of Minority Health of the Department of Health and Human Services in focusing on improving health and healthcare outcomes for African Americans at an elevated risk of prostate cancer; and
urges investment by the National Cancer Institute and National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, and other elements of the National Institutes of Health, as well as the Department of Defense, in research focusing on the improvement of early detection and treatment of prostate cancer, such as by using biomarkers to accurately distinguish indolent forms of prostate cancer from lethal forms and advanced imaging tools to assure the best level of individualized patient care.