REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM OF EDUCATION, AWARENESS AND SUPPORT GROUPS CONCERNING THE ISSUE OF PROSTATE CANCER.

WHEREAS, approximately one thousand two hundred New Mexico men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer each year; and

WHEREAS, nearly two hundred New Mexico men will die every year from this disease; and

WHEREAS, the risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer is highest among the older adult male population; and

WHEREAS, twenty-five-year time trends provided by the New Mexico tumor registry show a pattern of rising incidence of and mortality due to prostate cancer; and

WHEREAS, prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer as the most common cancer killer of men; and

WHEREAS, efforts toward education of New Mexico men about prostate cancer and support for the men in this state with the disease are in their infancy;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to create a task force that includes representatives from the American cancer society and the prostate cancer support association of New Mexico, health care practitioners and others to develop a plan to implement a program of education, awareness and support groups concerning the issue of prostate cancer in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force present its plan and recommendations to the appropriate legislative committee by October 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the department of health.