III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 493 

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. 

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, 


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•SRES 493 IS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes that prostate cancer has created 

3 a health crisis for African-American men; 

4 (2) recognizes the importance of health cov5 erage and access to care, as well as promoting in6 formed decisionmaking between men and their doc7 tors, taking into consideration the known risks and 

8 potential benefits of screening and treatment options 

9 for prostate cancer; 

10 (3) urges Federal agencies to support— 


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•SRES 493 IS 

1 (A) research to address and attempt to end 

2 the health crisis created by prostate cancer; 

3 (B) efforts relating to education, aware4 ness, and early detection at the grassroots level 

5 to end that health crisis; and 

6 (C) the Office of Minority Health of the 

7 Department of Health and Human Services in 

8 focusing on improving health and healthcare 

9 outcomes for African Americans at an elevated 

10 risk of prostate cancer; and 

11 (4) urges investment by the National Cancer 

12 Institute and National Institute of Biomedical Imag13 ing and Bioengineering, and other elements of the 

14 National Institutes of Health, as well as the Depart15 ment of Defense, in research focusing on the im16 provement of early detection and treatment of pros17 tate cancer, such as by using biomarkers to accu18 rately distinguish indolent forms of prostate cancer 

19 from lethal forms and advanced imaging tools to as20 sure the best level of individualized patient care. 

Æ 


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