BILL NUMBER: SCR 14INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Aanestad FEBRUARY 11, 2009 Relative to Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 14, as introduced, Aanestad. Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. This measure would designate the month of September 2009 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in the State of California and would encourage public officials and citizens to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. Fiscal committee: yes. WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that one in ____ men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime and that there will be approximately ____ new cases of the disease in the United States in the current year, resulting in nearly ____ deaths; and WHEREAS, In California, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in all race and ethnic groups. African American men are ____ percent more likely to develop this disease than any other group of men; and WHEREAS, In California, approximately ____ men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and each day more than ____ 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 ____ percent when prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated early, but drops to ____ percent when the disease spreads to other parts of the body; and WHEREAS, Early detection is key to survival and the American Cancer Society recommends that every man should be offered screening tests determined by his age and risk factor, including an annual prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination; and WHEREAS, Men who have several close relatives who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age should begin their testing at 40 years of age; and WHEREAS, Men who have a father, son, or brother who was diagnosed with prostate cancer before 65 years of age, and all African American men, should begin testing at 45 years of age; and WHEREAS, Other men should begin testing at 50 years of age if they have a life expectancy of at least an additional 10 years; 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 2009 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.