LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim September 2015 as Urological Health Awareness Month in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing serious
diseases by proclaiming official months to increase awareness of such
concerns, which affect thousands of New Yorkers; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 2015 as Urological Health
Awareness Month in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Urologists are committed to educating people in the United
States, including all health care providers, about prostate cancer and
early detection strategies, which is crucial to saving the lives of men
and preserving and protecting families; and
WHEREAS, Prostate cancer is a substantial health problem in the State
of New York and throughout the United States; it is the second leading
cause of cancer-related deaths among American men; and
WHEREAS, In 2015, it is estimated there will be 220,000 new prostate
cancer cases and nearly 30,000 deaths from prostate cancer; and
WHEREAS, One out of every seven men will be diagnosed with prostate
cancer in their lifetime; prostate cancer can remain symptomless for
years; there is often no way to detect prostate cancer in its early
stages except through specific tests done by trained professionals
making screening crucial to save men's lives; and
WHEREAS, Despite decades of education and awareness efforts, prostate
cancer incidence and mortality rates for African-American men remain
nearly double that of Caucasian men; and
WHEREAS, Screening by both a digital rectal examination (DRE) and a
prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test can diagnose the disease in
its early stages, increasing the chances of surviving more than five
years to nearly 100 percent; and
WHEREAS, Between 1990 and 2012, utilization of the PSA blood test and
the DRE resulted in a 45% decrease in prostate cancer mortality in the
United States; and
WHEREAS, The 2012 decision by the United States Preventative Services
Task Force to eliminate the recommendation of the prostate specific
antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE) to screen men for
prostate cancer resulted in confusion regarding proper screening inter-
vals and methods; and
WHEREAS, The proportion of men diagnosed with intermediate or high-
risk cancer, based on blood prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level,
increased by nearly 6% from 2011 to 2013, according to an analysis of
men treated for the disease since 2005; and
WHEREAS, It is critical that the New York State Department of Health
strongly advise men on the need to be screened for prostate cancer with
the PSA and DRE; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 2015 as
Urological Health Awareness Month 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.