LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim June 10-16, 2013, as Men's Health Week in the State of New York

WHEREAS, June 10-16, 2013, is National Men's Health Week; its sole
purpose is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and
encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys;
and
WHEREAS, National Men's Health Week was established by Congress in
1994 and urges men and their families to engage in appropriate health
behaviors; the resulting increased awareness has improved health-related
education and has helped prevent illness; and
WHEREAS, The shift to prevention requires not only changes in the
health care system, but also an awareness by the American public of the
importance of regular visits to their physicians; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing and preventing men's health problems is not just
a man's issue; due to its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and
sisters, men's health is truly a family issue; and
WHEREAS, Despite the advances in medical technology and research, men
continue to live an average of seven years less than women; and
WHEREAS, Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men
aged 15-34, and when detected early, has an 87 percent survival rate;
and
WHEREAS, The death rate for prostate cancer has grown at almost twice
the death rate of breast cancer in the last five years; and
WHEREAS, African-American men in the United States have the highest
incidence in the world of cancer of the prostate; and
WHEREAS, Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, afflicting
1 out of every 11 American men and killing 34,000 men every year; and
WHEREAS, Prostate cancer and many other health problems affecting men
could be avoided if men's awareness of health screening tests were
increased; heightening the awareness of preventable health problems and
increasing early detection and treatment of disease would significantly
improve our Nation's health, as well as save health care dollars; and
WHEREAS, Men are seven times as likely as women to be arrested for
drunk driving and three times as likely to be alcoholics; and
WHEREAS, Women visit the doctor 150 percent as often as men, enabling
them to detect health problems in their early stages; and
WHEREAS, Significant numbers of male related health problems such as
prostate cancer, testicular cancer, infertility, and colon cancer, could
be detected and treated if men's awareness of these problems was more
pervasive; and
WHEREAS, Educating both the public and health care providers about the
importance of early detection of male health problems will result in
reducing rates of mortality for these diseases; and
WHEREAS, Appropriate use of tests such as Prostate Specific Antigen
(PSA) exams, blood pressure screens, cholesterol screens, etc., in
conjunction with clinical examination and self-testing for problems such
as testicular cancer, can result in the detection of many of these prob-
lems in their early stages and increases in the survival rates to nearly
100 percent; and
WHEREAS, Many men are reluctant to visit their health center or physi-
cian for regular screening examinations of male related problems for a
variety of reasons including fear, lack of information, and cost
factors; and
WHEREAS, Men who are educated about the value that preventive health
can play in prolonging their lifespan and their role as a productive

family member, will be more likely to participate in health screenings;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 10-16, 2013, as
Men's Health Week in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.