NY J01549

Requests Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 2026 as Oral Cancer Awareness Month in New York State, aligning with National Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Highlights that HPV-16 virus is driving the fastest growing segment of oral cancer cases among young, healthy, nonsmoking individuals

Notes racial disparities in oral cancer: occurs twice as often in African-Americans as Caucasians, with 33% five-year survival rate for African-Americans versus 55% for Caucasians

Emphasizes early detection results in 80-90% survival rate, and CDC recommends annual oral cancer screenings for anyone over age 17

States the gender ratio has shifted from 6:1 (men to women) to 2:1, attributed to increased smoking among women over recent decades