Tuesday, August 3, 2004

By JOEL STASHENKO
Associated Press Writer
August 3, 2004, 6:47 PM EDT
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Starting in 2005, New Yorkers can contribute to prostate
cancer research by checking off a donation on their state tax returns.
With financier Michael Milken at his side, Gov. George Pataki signed a
bill into law Tuesday providing for the new prostate cancer checkoff.
The governor announced that for every dollar New York taxpayers donate,
Milken's Prostate Cancer Foundation will contribute a dollar.

Of the 230,000 men diagnosed nationally with prostate cancer this year,
nearly 30,000 will die. Milken, who was diagnosed with the disease 11
years ago, said the outcomes of cases continue to improve, especially
when it's discovered early.
"We've made important progress in prevention, detection and treatment of
this devastating disease," Milken said. "But time is not on our side as
baby boomers are reaching the age at which the rate of prostate cancer
rises quickly."
State officials had no estimate for how much money would be donated
through the checkoff. There are five other donation boxes on current
state income tax returns, including opportunities to contribute to
breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease research. The checkoff boxes raise
about $1.5 million a year in overall contributions, state Tax
Commissioner Andrew Eristoff said.
State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said the legislation signed
Tuesday grew out of a round-table on prostate cancer co-hosted by Milken
and the senator earlier this year. Bruno underwent treatment for
prostate cancer in 2003 and said he's been declared cancer-free by
doctors.
Bruno said men are not as diligent as women about getting regular
medical checkups or at aggressively seeking medical care when they
suspect they have a health problem.
Donald Distasio, CEO for the American Cancer Society's eastern division,
said Bruno's candor about his condition and his treatment undoubtedly
caused many men across the state to get screened for prostate cancer.
According to the state's health commissioner, Dr. Antonia Novello, about
1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer and about 1 in 8 women will get
breast cancer. She said the death rates are almost identical.
Milken beat his cancer despite being given 12 months to live when it was
first diagnosed in 1993.
The one-time "junk bond king," Milken served two years in prison for
securities crimes. He has long been a leading philanthropist, founding
the Milken Family Foundation in 1982 and the Prostate Cancer Foundation
in 1993.
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knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional    
"Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is
invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so."