IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 584 

Expressing support for the designation of September 2019 as ‘‘National 

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 

Mr. PAYNE (for himself, Mr. MULLIN, and Mr. MEEKS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for 

a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of September 2019 

as ‘‘National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas an estimated 3,110,403 men in the United States 

live with prostate cancer; 

Whereas, according to the National Cancer Institute, the percentage of newly diagnosed prostate cancer cases in men 

under 65 has significantly increased and stands at 41.9 

percent; 

Whereas 1 in 9 men in the United States will be diagnosed 

with prostate cancer in their lifetimes; 


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Whereas prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed 

nonskin cancer and the second-leading cause of cancerrelated deaths among men in the United States; 

Whereas the American Cancer Society estimates that in 

2019, 174,650 men will be diagnosed with, and more 

than 31,620 men will die of, prostate cancer; 

Whereas the odds of developing prostate cancer rise rapidly 

after age 50; 

Whereas African-American men suffer from a prostate cancer 

incidence rate that is significantly higher than that of 

White men and have more than double the prostate cancer mortality rate than that of White men; 

Whereas some veterans are at an increased risk of prostate 

cancer due to chemical or radiation exposure during military service; 

Whereas a study conducted at the Portland VA Medical Center and Oregon Health and Science University found that 

veterans exposed to Agent Orange were at an increased 

risk for both developing prostate cancer and developing 

more aggressive forms of the disease; 

Whereas having a father or brother with prostate cancer 

more than doubles the risk of a man developing prostate 

cancer, with a higher risk for men who have a brother 

with the disease and the highest risk for men with several 

affected relatives; 

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

the earlier, more treatable stages, which could increase 

the chances of survival for more than 5 years to nearly 

100 percent; 


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Whereas prostate cancer is almost always diagnosed with a 

needle biopsy where the prostate is mapped and tissue 

cores removed from at least a dozen sites; 

Whereas even with state-of-the-art laboratory techniques and 

specimen tracking, the peer-reviewed literature reports 

that as many as 2.5 percent of prostate biopsy patients 

are affected by biopsy tissue switching or contamination 

leading to misdiagnosis; 

Whereas misdiagnosis can result in inappropriate over- or 

under-treatment of men; 

Whereas only 30 percent of men survive more than 5 years 

if diagnosed with prostate cancer after the cancer has 

metastasized; 

Whereas there are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer 

in the early stages, making appropriate 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 men and 

preserving and protecting families: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of 

3 ‘‘National 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; 


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1 (B) to encourage research— 

2 (i) to improve screening and treat3 ment for prostate cancer; 

4 (ii) to discover the causes of prostate 

5 cancer; and 

6 (iii) to develop a cure for prostate 

7 cancer; 

8 (C) support Medicare payment policies 

9 that will improve diagnostic accuracy and elimi10 nate prostate cancer misdiagnosis due to biopsy 

11 contamination or specimen switching; and 

12 (D) to continue to consider ways for im13 proving access to, and eliminating racial dis14 parities in, the quality of health care services 

15 for detecting and treating prostate cancer; and 

16 (3) calls on the people of the United States, in17 terest groups, and affected persons— 

18 (A) to promote awareness of prostate can19 cer; 

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

21 end the devastating effects of prostate cancer 

22 on individuals, families, and the economy; and 


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1 (C) to observe National Prostate Cancer 

2 Awareness Month with appropriate ceremonies 

3 and activities. 

Æ 


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