Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. wants all Long Island men to realize the danger of not getting screened for prostate cancer after the age of 50. To help spread the message that early detection saves lives, Fuschillo has joined Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno in announcing the release of $500,000 for prostate cancer education.

The money, which is available from unused resources in the Health Care Fund Act, will be allocated to the Prostate and Testicular Cancer Detection and Education Program, which was created in 1997. Primarily financed by private donations and some state appropriations, the fund currently has only $56,000 from the sale of special Prostate Cancer Awareness license plates.

"Senator Bruno knows firsthand about the dangers of prostate cancer, having been diagnosed with the disease this past summer, and has wisely embarked on a program that will enable other men to benefit from early detection," said Fuschillo. "The extra funds allocated to the Prostate and Testicular Cancer Detection and Education Program will force more men to realize the dangers of prostate cancer and will save lives."

According to the Prostate Cancer Education Council, prostate cancer is the second leading type of cancer that afflicts men in the United States and more than 184,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. When detected early, almost 100 percent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer survive.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men have yearly prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing each year beginning at the age of 50. If there is a history of prostate cancer in your family or if you have another risk factor, testing should begin by age 40.

"Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men and the second most deadly cancer behind lung cancer. It is imperative that men get a yearly examination and treatment, if necessary," concluded Fuschillo.

Fuschillo has been a leading advocate in the fight against cancer in the state and sees the extra funding as another way to protect New Yorkers. In 2000, Senator Fuschillo wrote the law that requires New York State to match all dollars raised for the Breast Cancer Research and Education Fund through both the state income tax forms and through the state's "Drive for the Cure" custom license plate program. These funds are used to support research at New York academic medical institutions and public and private organizations. In addition, he sponsors a "no-cost" mammography checkup for women over the age of 40 on a monthly basis.

Anybody with questions or who would like more information regarding prostate cancer and early detection, please call Senator Fuschillo's office at 546-4100 or visit his website at www.senatorfuschillo.com.

Senator Fuschillo announces that October is the nationally recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

According to statistics from the National Association of Breast Cancer Organizations, there are expected to be over 250,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed this year. That is expected to account for 32 percent of all new instances of cancer among women in the United States. They also estimate that almost 40,000 women will die due to the disease this year.

With periodic exams, breast cancer can be detected early and the odds for survival grow. If diagnosed and treated early, the five-year survival rate for localized breast cancer is 97 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. That is why it is imperative that women get checked out as soon as possible.

"I am hopeful that the recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month reminds all women and men to get that checkup that they may have been putting off," stated Fuschillo. "If you know someone in your life who may not have been checked, please ask them to do so as soon as possible. Everyone must get involved in the movement for better health. Preventative measures and early detection will help guard against the dangers of breast cancer."

According to the American Cancer Society, women should get clinical breast exams as part of a periodic health exam from the age of 20. These exams should be every three years for women in their 20s and 30s and yearly for women over the age of 40. Women over the age of 40 should also begin to get yearly mammograms. Additionally, women who are at increased risk should speak to their doctor about beginning mammograms earlier or getting examined more frequently.

If you would like more information on breast cancer, please visit the following websites:

American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org

The National Association of Breast Cancer Organizations at www.nabco.org

The Long Island Breast Cancer Coalition at www.1in9.org

Every month, Senator Fuschillo sponsors a "no cost" mammography van that offers women over 40 free breast cancer screening at various sites. If you would like to get information on upcoming dates and locations, please call his district office at 546-4100.

Senator Fuschillo announced that as of Sept. 30, repeat DWI offenders will face harsher penalties thanks to a new law he co-sponsored in the New York State Senate. The new rules, which are aimed at cutting the high rate of repeat offenders, are aimed at keeping these intoxicated drivers off the streets and further protecting the innocent drivers who they may harm.

The new sentencing rules call for increased jail time with each DWI conviction and are the latest step in New York State's effort to end drunk driving. Under the new law, anyone convicted of a second DWI offense within five years of a previous conviction would face an additional five days imprisonment or 30 days of community service. A third conviction in a five-year period would add 10 days in jail or 60 days of community service to a violator's sentence.

Also required under the new law is the installation of an ignition interlock device on every motor vehicle that the repeat offender owns. The lock, a device that is in the car and connected to a vehicle's ignition system, must remain in the owner's vehicles during any license revocation period and may, at the court's discretion, be required for an even longer period of time. Repeat offenders who must comply with the ignition interlock device also are restricted in the usage of motor vehicles that they do not own, such as rental cars, which are not equipped with the device.

Additionally, the court will now order an assessment of alcohol abuse to determine the degree of abuse and the necessity of treatment. After such an assessment is complete, the court may impose treatment as a condition of sentencing.

Marge Lee, president of Drive Educated Drive Informed Commit and Totally End Drunk Driving, stated her group's support of the new law. "DEDICATEDD applauds Senator Fuschillo and the legislature for sending a strong message to anyone who drives drunk in our state," stated Lee. "As a victim's organization, many of our members know personally the heartbreak these violent crimes place on families. It is encouraging that our legislature knows that every New York life is precious and is taking positive actions to ensure our safety."

"These new penalties force those convicted of DWI to acknowledge the fact that New York State will not tolerate any excuse when dealing with a drunk driver," stated Senator Fuschillo. "New York will not tolerate anyone under the influence on our roads and this is not the last step in our fight to protect our law abiding public."

Senator Fuschillo has long been a leader in New York State in the fight against drunk driving. This past year, he sponsored the new law that lowered the blood alcohol threshold for DWI from .10 to .08, a change that experts estimate will save an additional 40 lives a year in the state. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), states which have lowered their BAC levels to .08 percent have shown significant decreases in alcohol-related fatalities.