WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 1, 2017 – Advocates from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will join more than 200 childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, May 2, to ask Congress to support initiatives that would increase research and improve treatment, leading to better outcomes for children with cancer. The sixth annual Childhood Cancer Action Day, coordinated by the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, is an effort to advance crucial legislation that will benefit the nearly 16,000 children newly diagnosed with cancer each year.
“While advances in treatment have increased the survival rate for some childhood cancers, cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for children ages 1-19,” said Chris Hansen, president of ACS CAN. “That’s why families from 32 states are bringing their personal experiences to Capitol Hill to help elevate pediatric cancer as a priority issue for this Congress.”
Advocates as young as one year old will meet with their members of Congress to ask for their support for increased funding for childhood cancer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute, as well for co-sponsorship of the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access and Research (STAR) Act.
The STAR Act (H.R. 820/S. 292) would advance pediatric cancer research, increase transparency of and expertise on pediatric cancer research at the NIH, ensure pharmaceutical companies have compassionate use policies that are accessible to the public, and expand research into the long-term side effects due to childhood cancer and its treatments.
“Congress has a significant role to play in addressing the current challenges in developing new childhood cancer treatments by providing researchers with the essential tools to fight pediatric cancer and helping children during treatment and throughout the rest of their lives,” said Hansen. “On behalf of the more than 379,000 childhood cancer survivors living in the U.S. today, we urge Congress to commit to strengthening initiatives that will improve research, treatment and outcomes for children with cancer.”
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