Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 2026, as Urological Health Awareness Month in the State of New York

Assembly Resolution No. 1448

BY: M. of A. Rules (Lavine)

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        September 2026, 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 Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 2026, as  Urological  Health
Awareness Month in the State of New York, and

  WHEREAS,  Urologists are committed to educating people in the United
States, including 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,  Prostate  cancer  incidence  rates  have  increased  by 3%
annually since 2014, with advanced-stage diagnoses  rising  by  4.6%  to
4.8% per year; and

  WHEREAS,  One out of every eight men will be diagnosed with prostate
cancer in their lifetime; prostate cancer  can  remain  symptomless  for
years;  it  is  crucial  that  all  men  get  tested  because with early
detection, prostate cancer is treatable; and

  WHEREAS,  Despite  decades  of  education  and  awareness   efforts,
prostate  cancer  develops  more  often  in  African American men and in
Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other  races;  when  it
develops,   they   tend   to   be   younger;  it  is  64%  higher  among
African-American men than among 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, Early screening reduces prostate cancer mortality; evidence
shows  that  yearly  PSA testing is beneficial, reducing prostate cancer
deaths by 64% for men age 55-75; 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  Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim  September  2026,  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
transmitted  to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.