HR0333 LRB094 12043 CSA 45199 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The week of April 25, 2005, is National Minority
3 Cancer Awareness Week; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Cancer affects some segments of the U.S.
5 population more than others, cutting across medically
6 underserved ethnic groups; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Common obstacles to maintaining health include
8 inadequate health insurance, education level, illiteracy,
9 poverty, and language barriers; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Currently, the African-American population in the
11 U.S. bears a disproportionate burden of cancer;
12 African-Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial
13 and ethnic group for all cancers combined and for most major
14 cancers; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Currently, cancer is the second leading cause of
16 death among Hispanic adults, following heart disease; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Asian-Americans suffer from the highest liver
18 cancer incidence and mortality rate; and
 
19     WHEREAS, In 2005, an estimated 137,910 new cancer cases are
20 expected to be diagnosed among African-Americans, of which an
21 estimated 63,110 will die from their disease; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Among Hispanics, an estimated 67,400 new cancer
23 cases will be diagnosed, of which 22,100 will die from their
24 disease; and
 
25     WHEREAS, Minorities have a decreased likelihood of
26 surviving five years after diagnosis of cancer due to factors
27 associated with poverty which include reduced access to medical

 

 

HR0333 - 2 - LRB094 12043 CSA 45199 r

1 care, diagnosis of cancer at a later stage when the disease has
2 spread, and disparities in treatment; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Among African-American and Hispanic women, breast
4 cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Among African-American and Hispanic men, prostate
6 cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Among African-Americans, colorectal cancer is the
8 second most commonly diagnosed cancer; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Among Hispanics, colorectal cancer is the third
10 most commonly diagnosed cancer; and
 
11     WHEREAS, An estimated 15,500 deaths are expected among
12 African-Americans due to lung cancer, more than from any other
13 cancer; and
 
14     WHEREAS, An estimated 4,500 deaths are expected among
15 Hispanics due to lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death
16 among Hispanic men; therefore, be it
 
17     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
18 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
19 we recognize the week of April 25, 2005, as National Minority
20 Cancer Awareness Week; and be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That we support the American Cancer Society
22 principle, "By 2015: Eliminate the disparities in cancer
23 burdens among population groups by reducing age-adjusted
24 cancer incidence and mortality rates and improving quality of
25 life in the poor and underserved"; and be it further
 
26     RESOLVED, That we urge Governor Rod Blagojevich to promote
27 the awareness of the unequal cancer burden for ethnic and

 

 

HR0333 - 3 - LRB094 12043 CSA 45199 r

1 medically underserved populations; and be it further
 
2     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3 delivered to Governor Rod Blagojevich.