Press Release

Washington, DC—Today, the House of Representatives approved H.Res.353, a piece of critical legislation introduced by Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) and Dan Burton (R-Ind.) to recognize the need for a greater investment in advanced imaging technologies for prostate cancer treatment and detection.

 

“So many of us have either been personally affected by prostate cancer or have lost a loved one who suffered from the disease, and yet, despite its prevalence, we still lack adequate diagnostic tools to provide for early detection, accurate biopsies, and appropriate treatment,” Congressman Cummings said. “Today, we have taken a giant step forward in our battle to combat this curable disease and literally save lives.”

 

Almost 30,000 men die of prostate cancer each year—about one every 18 minutes, and half of the men who are treated experience a return of the cancer. Within the African American community, the statistics are even more alarming, with a 60 percent higher incidence rate and more than 2.5 times higher mortality rate than within the white community.

 

Despite prostate cancer having a higher prevalence than breast cancer, advanced diagnostic imaging technologies comparable to mammograms still remain unavailable. Because of the lack of an effective diagnostic tool, more than 1 million men have unnecessary and traumatic biopsies each year, with side effects such as impotence and incontinence.

 

“Accurate and affordable diagnoses of prostate cancer are necessary tools in reducing the number of men traumatically affected by this disease, and they also offer an estimated savings of nearly $5 billion on health costs annually,” Congressman Cummings said. “Today, my colleagues joined me in voting for more than just a piece of legislation; they joined me in voting to protect the quality of life for millions of men.”

 

Congressman Cummings also introduced the Prostate Research, Imaging, and Men’s Education (PRIME) Act, H.R. 3563, which would provide more than $130 million per year for five years to expand research on prostate cancer, develop advanced imaging technologies for detection, diagnosis, and treatment, launch a national campaign to increase awareness of the need for prostate cancer screening, and improve blood tests.