TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Joseph Coniglio to establish a Prostate Cancer Education and Research program in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
“Prostate cancer is the is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men, and the odds increase for African-Americans and men over age 65,” said Senator Coniglio, D-Bergen. “This funding would help New Jersey maintain its role as a national leader in health care research, and work to help save lives here in New Jersey and around the world.”
Senator Coniglio’s measure, S-236, would establish a Prostate cancer awareness, educational and research program within the DHSS to provide support for prostate cancer research, physician education and awareness and patient education and screening services.
The bill would also appropriate $1 million from the General Fund to help cover the cost of the program. The appropriated funds would be distributed as follows: $600,000 would go towards prostate cancer medical research; $150,000 for physician education and awareness ; and $250,000 for patient education and screening services, $150,000 of which would be allocated to the DHSS’ Office of Minority Health for patient education and screening for minority groups.
“According to the American Cancer Society, of the estimated 232,090 new cases of prostate cancer to be diagnosed this year, nearly 5,000 of them will be found in New Jersey. While 5,000 is not a huge number, it puts New Jersey in the top ten for new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed. This program is necessary to help save the lives of the State’s men, and to work to help increase awareness and prevent new cases,” said Senator Coniglio.
This measure now awaits a vote by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committ