H*4349 Concurrent Resolution, By Knotts, Bingham, Quinn and Whatley
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS "PROSTATE
 CANCER AWARENESS MONTH" AND CALL ON THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE, INTERESTED
 GROUPS, AND AFFECTED PERSONS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF PROSTATE CANCER, TAKE AN
 ACTIVE ROLE IN THE FIGHT TO END THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF PROSTATE CANCER ON
 INDIVIDUALS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ECONOMY, AND OBSERVE THE MONTH OF
 SEPTEMBER WITH APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

   08/27/01  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate
   08/28/01  Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-1

TO DESIGNATE THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS "PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH" AND CALL ON THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE, INTERESTED GROUPS, AND AFFECTED PERSONS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF PROSTATE CANCER, TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE FIGHT TO END THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF PROSTATE CANCER ON INDIVIDUALS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ECONOMY, AND OBSERVE THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER WITH APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

Whereas, over one million American families live with prostate cancer; and

Whereas, one American man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime; and

Whereas, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed nonskin cancer and the second most common cancer killer of American men; and

Whereas, nearly two hundred thousand American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and over thirty-one thousand American men will die of prostate cancer in 2001, according to American Cancer Society estimates. In South Carolina an estimated two thousand eight hundred men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001 and an estimated four hundred ninety-five men will die from this cancer in 2001; and

Whereas, according to the most recent national statistics, South Carolina ranks second among the fifty states in prostate cancer mortality; and

Whereas, in South Carolina prostate cancer was the most common new cancer diagnosed among South Carolina men in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among South Carolina men following lung cancer deaths; and

Whereas, fully one-fourth of new cases of prostate cancer occur in men during their prime working years; and

Whereas, African Americans have higher prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates than Caucasian men; and

Whereas, screening by both digit rectal examination and prostate specific antigen blood test (PSA) can diagnose the disease in earlier and more treatable stages and have reduced prostate cancer mortality; and

Whereas, the research pipeline promises further improvements in prostate cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment; and

Whereas, educating South Carolinians, including health care providers, about prostate cancer and early detection strategies is crucial to saving men's lives and preserving and protecting our families. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved that the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina designates the month of September as "Prostate Cancer Awareness Month" and calls upon the people of the State, interested groups, and affected persons to promote awareness of prostate cancer, to take an active role in the fight to end the devastating effects of prostate cancer on individuals, the families, and the economy, and to observe the month of September with appropriate educational activities.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Governor, the Department of Health and Environmental Control, the American Cancer Society, South Carolina Division, and the State Chapter of US TOO, a prostate cancer support group.