Res 1588-2017

By Council Members Espinal and Ulrich Whereas, Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among American men; and Whereas, The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 161,360 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in 2017, including over 10,000 in New York; and Whereas, Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic men, and the fourth most common cause of death from cancer among Asian/Pacific Islander men; and Whereas, The risk of prostate cancer is 74 percent higher in blacks than in whites; and Whereas, Different people have different symptoms for prostate cancer and some men do not have symptoms at all; and Whereas, Prostate cancer death rates have been decreasing 3 percent per year since 1999, however, there are significant disparities in treatment, with African American and Hispanic men less likely to receive treatment compared to White men; and Whereas, While it is a common cancer, most men with prostate cancer are older than 65 years and do not die from the disease because it usually grows slowly; and Whereas, There are two tests that are commonly used to screen for prostate cancer; and Whereas, The digital rectal exam (DRE) includes a doctor or nurse inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to estimate the size of the prostate and feel for lumps or other abnormalities; and Whereas, A second screening measures the prostate specific antigen (PSA) level in blood, as levels of PSA in the blood can be higher in men who have prostate cancer; and Whereas, Currently, only a biopsy can definitively diagnose prostate cancer (a minor surgery to get small samples of prostate cells or tissues); and Whereas, Men who are African American, over the age of 65, or who have a family history of prostate cancer are at higher risk and should be aware of risk factors and symptoms; and Whereas, Men should talk to their doctor about their risk factors and whether screening for prostate cancer is right for them; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York recognizes September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in New York City. CP LS 10821 5/22/17