SR0157 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0157 LRB094 12042 CSA 45198 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The week of April 25, 2005, is National Minority Cancer Awareness Week; and

WHEREAS, Cancer affects some segments of the U.S. population more than others, cutting across medically underserved ethnic groups; and

WHEREAS, Common obstacles to maintaining health include inadequate health insurance, education level, illiteracy, poverty, and language barriers; and

WHEREAS, Currently, the African-American population in the U.S. bears a disproportionate burden of cancer; African-Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial and ethnic group for all cancers combined and for most major cancers; and

WHEREAS, Currently, cancer is the second leading cause of death among Hispanic adults, following heart disease; and

WHEREAS, Asian-Americans suffer from the highest liver cancer incidence and mortality rate; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, an estimated 137,910 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed among African-Americans, of which an estimated 63,110 will die from their disease; and

WHEREAS, Among Hispanics, an estimated 67,400 new cancer cases will be diagnosed, of which 22,100 will die from their disease; and

WHEREAS, Minorities have a decreased likelihood of surviving five years after diagnosis of cancer due to factors associated with poverty which include reduced access to medical care, diagnosis of cancer at a later stage when the disease has spread, and disparities in treatment; and

WHEREAS, Among African-American and Hispanic women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer; and

WHEREAS, Among African-American and Hispanic men, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death; and

WHEREAS, Among African-Americans, colorectal cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer; and

WHEREAS, Among Hispanics, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 15,500 deaths are expected among African-Americans due to lung cancer, more than from any other cancer; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 4,500 deaths are expected among Hispanics due to lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic men; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the week of April 25, 2005, as National Minority Cancer Awareness Week; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support the American Cancer Society principle, "By 2015: Eliminate the disparities in cancer burdens among population groups by reducing age-adjusted cancer incidence and mortality rates and improving quality of life in the poor and underserved"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Governor Rod Blagojevich to promote the awareness of the unequal cancer burden for ethnic and medically underserved populations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to Governor Rod Blagojevich.