Whereas , Prostate cancer has been the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Michigan men since the late 1980s; and,

Whereas , In 2005, 7,864 men in Michigan were diagnosed with prostate cancer and 925 died from the disease, ranking prostate cancer the second-leading cause of cancer deaths that year; and,

Whereas , African-American men are twice as likely as white men to die of prostate cancer; and,

Whereas , Older age, African ancestry, and a family history of prostate cancer increase one's risk of developing prostate cancer; and,

Whereas , The Michigan Cancer Consortium's educational materials for the treatment of early stage prostate cancer, Making the Choice:  Deciding What to Do About Early Stage Prostate Cancer, is available free of charge to Michigan residents by calling (800)249-0314, or visiting www.prostatecancerdecision.org; and,

Whereas , Education can enable men to make informed decisions regarding early detection and treatment options for prostate cancer; and,

Whereas , Such efforts are underway by the Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Cancer Consortium and its members, the state of Michigan, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and now therefore be it,

Resolved , That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 2008 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.  I encourage all citizens to learn more about this disease, to understand risk factors for developing the disease, and to recognize the importance of informed and shared decision-making for prostate cancer-related care and treatment.