File #: Res 0777-2007    Version: * Name: Recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in the City of New York.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Health
On agenda: 3/28/2007
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in the City of New York.
Sponsors: Helen D. Foster, Gale A. Brewer, Lewis A. Fidler, Vincent J. Gentile, Letitia James, Melinda R. Katz, Darlene Mealy, Michael C. Nelson, Annabel Palma, Larry B. Seabrook, Albert Vann, David I. Weprin, James Sanders, Jr.
Council Member Sponsors: 13

Res. No. 777

 

Resolution recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in the City of New York.

 

By Council Members Foster, Brewer, Fidler, Gentile, James, Katz, Mealy, Nelson, Palma, Seabrook, Vann, Weprin and Sanders Jr.

 

                     Whereas, Colorectal cancer is a disease in which the cells of the colon or the rectum become abnormal and begin to divide without control, forming a mass called a polyp; and

                     Whereas, According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), small polyps, if not detected and removed promptly, will evolve into colorectal cancer within 5 to 15 years; and

                     Whereas, Statistics contained in the American Cancer Society’s “Colorectal Cancer Facts and Figures for 2005” have revealed that colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in Americans, and that an estimated 145,290 new cases of colon cancer were found in the United States, causing  56,290 deaths; and

                     Whereas, According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Health (DOHMH), colorectal cancer kills over 1,500 residents of New York City annually; and

                     Whereas, The NCI suggests that colon cancer may be prevented with a diet low in fat and calories and high in fiber, at least 30 minutes of physical activity on 5 or more days of the week, and regular use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; and

                     Whereas, The National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance indicates that approximately two-thirds of deaths from colorectal cancer are preventable with regular screening and simple prevention techniques; and

                     Whereas, According to DOHMH, almost half of all people over the age of 50 have colon polyps, which may develop into cancer; and

                     Whereas, DOHMH also notes that fewer than half of City residents who are age 50 or older undergo regular colon screenings; and

                     Whereas, The New York Academy of Medicine (the “Academy”) conducted a study that revealed that screening for colon cancer is lower among certain racial and ethnic minorities; and                     Whereas, The Academy study, which included 5,995 cancer-free adults ages 50 and older, concluded that 48% of Whites were screened for colon cancer, compared with 34% of African-Americans, 28% of Hispanics, 30% of Asians and 32% of others; and

                     Whereas, Raising awareness of the importance of regular colon cancer screenings and prevention techniques will help safeguard the health and well-being of numerous City residents; and

                     Whereas, March has been designated as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York recognizes March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in the City of New York.

 

 

 

MB

LS # 2739

3/21/07