Res. No. 676
Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to pass the "Thomas J. Manton Prostate Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Act of 2009" (H.R. 4383), which would amend the Public Health Service Act and Title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a screening and treatment program for prostate cancer in the same manner as is provided for breast and cervical cancer.
By Council Members Vallone, Jr., Brewer, Chin, Dromm, Eugene, Ferreras, Gennaro, Gentile, Jackson, Recchia, Rose, Vann, Williams, Halloran, Koo and Ulrich
Whereas, According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in the United States, other than some kinds of skin cancer; and
Whereas, The CDC also finds that prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States, after lung cancer, and the seventh leading cause of death overall for men in this country; and
Whereas, One in six men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS); and
Whereas, ACS further estimates that, in 2009, approximately 192,280 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 27,360 men will die of prostate cancer; and
Whereas, According to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC), if a man in the United States has one family member diagnosed with prostate cancer, he has double the risk of prostate cancer, if he has two family members with such diagnoses, he has five times the risk, and if he has three family members with such diagnoses, he then has a 97 percent risk of prostate cancer; and
Whereas, Additionally, there are significant racial disparities with respect to prostate cancer, as African-American males have the highest incidence rate for prostate cancer in the United States, and they are more than twice as likely to die from this disease than White males; and
Whereas, Further, the NPCC found that nearly 100 percent of men whose prostate cancer was found while the cancer is still local or regional are still alive five years after being diagnosed, while only 34 percent survive five years in cases where the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body; and
Whereas, Screening by both a digital rectal examination (DRE) and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test can diagnose the disease in earlier and more treatable stages and reduce prostate cancer mortality; and
Whereas, According to the NPCC, there are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer while it is still in the early stages, which is why screening is so critical; and
Whereas, The "Thomas J. Manton Prostate Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Act of 2009" (H.R. 4383), has been introduced in the United States Congress to increase screening for prostate cancer and improve early detection and treatment of this disease; and
Whereas, Specifically, this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act and Title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide a screening and treatment program for prostate cancer similar to the kind which is currently provided for breast and cervical cancer, and would provide grants to states to establish such programs as well as supplemental grants for additional preventive health services; and
Whereas, This bill is named for Thomas J. Manton, a distinguished former Marine and police officer who served as a Member of the New York City Council from 1970 to 1984, was elected to the United States Congress representing the 7th Congressional District in Queens from 1985 to 1999, and was the Queens County Democratic Leader for two decades, from 1986 until his untimely death from prostate cancer in July 2006 at the age of 73; and
Whereas, Countless men and their families in New York City live with prostate cancer and untold others are afflicted with prostate cancer but are undiagnosed; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Congress to pass the "Thomas J. Manton Prostate Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Act of 2009" (H.R. 4383), which would amend the Public Health Service Act and Title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a screening and treatment program for prostate cancer in the same manner as is provided for breast and cervical cancer.
Res. No. 1153/2007
LS # 855
JM