Introducing A Resolution to Recognize June as Men's Cancer Awareness Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight an issue of growing concern to this nation: cancer among men, by introducing a resolution recognizing June as Men's Cancer Awareness Month.

Cancer is a deadly disease that does not discriminate. It impacts all demographics and every segment of our population. However, what I find extremely alarming is that cancer is claiming the lives of males of all races and ages at an alarming rate. One in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer over the course of their lifetimes. Men face a 43.31 percent lifetime risk of being diagnosed with some form of cancer. Statistics show that men have a 22.83 percent chance of dying from cancer versus 19.26 percent of women. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that nearly 300,000 men die annually as a result of cancer. Furthermore, African American men have the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates according to the CDC.

I ask my fellow Members of Congress to join me in shining a light on this deadly disease that is plaguing the men of our communities. These men are our fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles, sons, grandsons, and nephews. Recognizing and preventing men's health problems is not just an issue facing men, it also has a profound impact on the lives of wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, and is truly a family issue. No one should ever be put in a position to have to prematurely bury their loved one.

Additionally, there are a number of consistent gender differences in cancer susceptibility. In fact, gender differences in cancer susceptibility are rarely publicized and often inadequately addressed. There are a number of common cancers that have the highest male-to-female (M:F) ratios, including colorectal cancers; cancers of the lung and bronchus; non-Hodgkin lymphoma, urinary and bladder cancers, and most alarming Kaposi sarcoma.

I was inspired to introduce this resolution by a constituent from my district, Mr. Joel Greshman, who founded the Not 1 Forgotten campaign in 2013, after losing two close friends and family members to cancer. Joel created the organization to encourage men to get regular check-ups in order to stay healthy and live longer. By joining Joel and others across the nation to bring greater awareness of cancer among men, it is my sincere hope that we can work together to better promote expanded advocacy, media campaigns and other events. The Not 1 Forgotten campaign has gained momentum in states and cities across our nation from Fort Lauderdale located in my Congressional district to Atlanta, Augusta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami Dade County, and New York.

The purpose of Men's Cancer Awareness Month is to heighten awareness and encourage early detection and treatment of cancer among men and boys.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critically important resolution and recognize June as Men's Cancer Awareness Month.

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