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HOUSE RESOLUTION


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 
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    WHEREAS, Minorities have a decreased likelihood of 
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surviving five years after diagnosis of cancer due to factors 
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associated with poverty which include reduced access to medical 
 


 






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care, diagnosis of cancer at a later stage when the disease has 
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spread, and disparities in treatment; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 
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    RESOLVED, That we urge Governor Rod Blagojevich to promote 
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the awareness of the unequal cancer burden for ethnic and 
 


 






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medically underserved populations; and be it further

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