American Cancer Society Calls on Congress to Break the Silence on the Unequal Burden of Prostate Cancer

American Cancer Society
Friday, 1 June 2001

The American Cancer Society, the nation's leading voluntary health organization, joined today with the American Urological Association, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and the Congressional Black Caucus, in calling on Congress to draw attention to the unequal burden of prostate cancer among African-American men.

"More needs to be done to reduce the unequal burden of cancer in our poor and minority communities," said Dr. John R. Kelly, Ph.D, national volunteer, chairman of the board of directors for the American Cancer Society. "Our nation must chart a new course in this war against cancer. A course where all Americans benefit from and receive the latest advances in the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer. A course that will provide our medically underserved populations with the cancer-related programs and services they desperately need."

African American men still have the highest rate of prostate cancer mortality in the United States. African American men are approximately 50 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than men of any other racial and ethnic group. Overall, prostate cancer in America is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men. This year alone, an estimated 180,400 men will develop prostate cancer and an estimated 31,900 prostate cancer deaths will occur. These rates are alarming and the Congress must take action.

"Congress must take action soon to address this national epidemic. It is heartening to think of lives that can be saved in African-American communities with education, early screening and detection programs, along with appropriate follow-up treatment," added Dr. Kelly.

The American Cancer Society urges the Members of Congress to support increased appropriations for FY 2001 prostate cancer programs, which includes the following:

- Increase the National Institute of Health (NIH) appropriations by 15 percent;

- Appropriate $4.1 billion for the National Cancer Institute (NCI);

- Provide a minimum $622 million for the cancer-related programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC), including $15 million for the CDC's prostate cancer awareness campaign; and

- Fund the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program at a minimum of $100 million.

To win the war against cancer, Congress needs to address the burden of cancer that falls on all Americans in every community.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org