2.10.15: Cancer Patients and Survivors Travel to Albany

Cancer Patients and Survivors Travel to Albany to Fight Back Against Governor Cuomo’s Budget Cuts to Crucial Cancer Programs

Volunteers Meet with New York State’s Lawmakers to Ask for Restoration of Funds for Life Saving Cancer Services Program

ALBANY, NY—February 11, 2015 – Nearly 200 cancer patients, survivors and caregivers from across the state traveled to the state Capitol in Albany on Tuesday, February 10,  to meet with lawmakers about support for New York’s Cancer Services Program (CSP), and funding for tobacco control and nutrition programs.  These visits were part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) Day at the Capitol.

In New York State more than 100,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and it is projected that some 35,000 will lose their lives to the disease..  Those gathering at the Capitol called on New York’s lawmakers to change this by taking steps to make the fight against cancer a priority.

One of the primary messages brought to the legislators is that Governor Cuomo’s fifteen percent cut to the lifesaving CSP must be restored. The CSP provides breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screenings for those who are uninsured or underinsured. 

  “We let our legislators know that it is crucial that the funds slashed by Governor Cuomo to the CSP are restored," said Bill Sherman, ACS CAN vice president for government relations. “If not, over 16,000 life-saving cancer screenings will not take place. Dying from cancer must not be allowed to be a side effect of living in poverty.”

Cancer survivor Richard Murray of Rhinebeck said, ”I let my lawmakers know that if we’re going to eliminate cancer as a major health problem in New York, the fight against this disease must be a priority for our legislature.”  “By emphasizing the importance of the restoring the  funds for the CSP a priority, we will ensure that progress continues to be made in detecting cancer early, thus reducing suffering and lowering death rates from this disease.”

Those visiting their legislators also asked for increasing the funding to New York State’s Tobacco Control Program (TCP). The TCP funds the dramatic anti-tobacco advertisements and the New York State Quitline, which together have been highly effective in helping smokers quit. The funding for this program has been cut in half since 2007, and Governor Cuomo is allocating only $39.3 million for the TCP in this year’s budget. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends bringing the total to $127 million incrementally.

Those visiting their legislators also asked for support for the Healthy Food and Healthy Communities Fund.  This program increases access to healthy foods in underserved communities across the state.

“We met with our elected leaders as representatives of each person living with cancer in New York,” said Sherman. “Even in this tough economic climate, New York’s legislature should commit to protecting the programs that literally help save lives so we can continue to look forward to new successes in fighting the disease.”

About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.