The House of Representatives approved this week historic legislation calling for increased support from the public and private sectors for the development of innovative advanced imaging technologies for early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer - the most common major cancer in the United States and the second-most-lethal cancer in men.
House Resolution 353, introduced by Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and Dan Burton (R-Ind.), has broad bipartisan support, with more than 100 cosponsors. Reflecting the disproportionate impact of prostate cancer on the African-American community, including a 60 per cent higher incidence rate and more than 2.5 times higher mortality rate, more than 30 members of the Congressional Black Caucus cosponsored the Resolution. Health Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr., (D-N.J.) and 19 other members of the Energy and Commerce Committee also cosponsored the Resolution.
"Prostate cancer is a threat to every man. Thanks to the steadfast leadership of Rep. Cummings and strong support from Rep. Burton, Congress has taken an important first step in acknowledging the need for improved early diagnosis of prostate cancer as a national priority that is as important as breast cancer imaging. As with mammography, prostate imaging is expected to save lives, improve quality of life in millions of men and eliminate prostate cancer as a patient care crisis. Ultimately, accurate and affordable imaging technologies will reduce health care costs by at least $5bn annually and end prostate cancer as a socio-economic problem," said AdMeTech Foundation President and CEO Faina Shtern, M.D.
"We and our partners in advocacy, academia, government and industry hope that this resolution will encourage the Administration and leaders at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense to increase funding for research to improve early and accurate diagnosis, which is critical for the selection of the most effective and least invasive clinical interventions," added Dr. Shtern.
