NEW ORLEANS – Nearly 700 cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones from all 50 states and nearly every congressional district will dial into calls and log onto virtual meetings this week to ask members of Congress to make the fight against cancer a national priority.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is hosting its annual Leadership Summit and Lobby Day virtually for the first time.
“Cancer hasn’t stopped, so neither have we. Congress must take action to address the needs of cancer patients during and beyond the pandemic,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “Emergency funding alone is not enough. We need consistent and significant increases in cancer research and prevention funding to ensure we maximize past investments and continue to make significant progress preventing and treating a disease that is projected to kill more than 600,000 Americans this year.”
In addition to urging lawmakers to boost research and prevention funding, ACS CAN volunteer advocates will also encourage lawmakers to advance legislation that addresses disparities in cancer care and supports more equitable access to cancer clinical trials through the Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act (the Act). Named after a Black woman who died from cervical cancer and whose cells cultivated during her treatment have been used to develop some of the most important cancer treatments, the Act would help focus on identifying and removing barriers that prevent underrepresented groups from participating in cancer clinical trials. Communities of color and other medically underserved groups continue to have higher cancer rates and are less likely to be diagnosed early or receive optimal treatment compared to other groups.
The virtual meetings follow a Lights of Hope Across America event held Saturday where 45,000 bags decorated with the names of those who’ve fought cancer were displayed in homes nationwide as a powerful message of hope. The event replaced the annual Lights of Hope ceremony which usually takes place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Louisiana will be in the spotlight Saturday when the virtual event goes live from co-State Lead Ambassador Kathy Judge’s New Orleans home. The event begins at 3 p.m. and can be viewed at fightcancer.org/lights.
ACS CAN Louisiana thanks Nucor Steel in Convent for their generous sponsorship of Lights of Hope Across America, which was dedicated to two families affected by cancer.
