III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 538 

Designating September 2012 as ‘‘National Prostate Cancer Awareness 

Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 1, 2012 

Mr. SESSIONS (for himself, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. KERRY, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. 

SHELBY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. TESTER, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. WYDEN, 

Mrs. HUTCHISON, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. 

COCHRAN, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. WICKER, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. MORAN, Mr. 

BROWN of Massachusetts, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. KIRK, Ms. MURKOWSKI, and 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 2012 as ‘‘National Prostate Cancer 

Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas countless families in the United States live with 

prostate cancer; 

Whereas 1 in 6 males in the United States will be diagnosed 

with prostate cancer during his lifetime; 

Whereas prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed 

non-skin cancer and the second most common cause of 

cancer-related deaths among males in the United States; 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 538 ATS 

Whereas, in 2012, the American Cancer Society estimates 

that 241,740 males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 28,170 males will die from the disease; 

Whereas 30 percent of newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases 

occur in males under the age of 65; 

Whereas, approximately every 14 seconds, a male in the 

United States turns 50 years old and increases his odds 

of developing cancer, including prostate cancer; 

Whereas African-American males suffer from a prostate cancer death rate that is more than twice the death rate of 

White males from prostate cancer; 

Whereas obesity is a significant predictor of the severity of 

prostate cancer; 

Whereas the probability that obesity will lead to death and 

high cholesterol levels is strongly associated with advanced prostate cancer; 

Whereas males in the United States with 1 family member 

diagnosed with prostate cancer have a 33 percent chance 

of being diagnosed with the disease, males with 2 family 

members diagnosed have an 83 percent chance, and 

males with 3 family members diagnosed have a 97 percent chance; 

Whereas screening by a digital rectal examination and a prostate-specific antigen blood test can detect the disease at 

the early stages, increasing the chances of survival for 

more than 5 years to nearly 100 percent; 

Whereas only 27.8 percent of males survive more than 5 

years if diagnosed with prostate cancer after the cancer 

has metastasized; 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 538 ATS 

Whereas there are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer 

while the cancer is in the early stages, making screening 

critical; 

Whereas ongoing research promises further improvements in 

prostate cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment; and 

Whereas educating people in the United States, including 

health care providers, about prostate cancer and early detection strategies is crucial to saving the lives of males 

and preserving and protecting families: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 2012 as ‘‘National 

3 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month’’; 

4 (2) declares that steps should be taken— 

5 (A) to raise awareness about the impor6 tance of screening methods for, and treatment 

7 of, prostate cancer; 

8 (B) to increase research funding in an 

9 amount commensurate with the burden of pros10 tate cancer so that— 

11 (i) screening and treatment for pros12 tate cancer may be improved; 

13 (ii) the causes of prostate cancer may 

14 be discovered; and 

15 (iii) a cure for prostate cancer may be 

16 developed; and 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 538 ATS 

1 (C) to continue to consider ways for im2 proving access to, and the quality of, health 

3 care services for detecting and treating prostate 

4 cancer; and 

5 (3) calls on the people of the United States, in6 terested groups, and affected persons— 

7 (A) to promote awareness of prostate can8 cer; 

9 (B) to take an active role in the fight to 

10 end the devastating effects of prostate cancer 

11 on individuals, families, and the economy; and 

12 (C) to observe National Prostate Cancer 

13 Awareness Month with appropriate ceremonies 

14 and activities. 

Æ 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS