Prostate Cancer

On Feb. 22, state Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) introduced SB 30, which would add two cents a pack to cigarettes to benefit prostate cancer research and screening. This bill is similar to one that is in effect to benefit breast cancer research. In her press conference, Watson pointed out that 200,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1994 and 38,000 died of it. It is estimated that over 244,000 will be diagnosed this year and over 40,000 will die from it. Watson said, “For every prostate cancer death, only $1,200 is spent on research, for each breast cancer death, $10,000 is spent on research; for AIDS it’s $50,000.”

We do not in any way want to diminish the terrible horror of breast cancer and AIDS. But in the last 10 years, twice as many men have died from prostate cancer as all people who died from AIDS.

AUBREY PILGRIM

Long Beach