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American Cancer Society Researcher Testifies Before Congress; Advocates for the SCREENS for Cancer Act and the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act.
February 14, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dr. Christina Annunziata, the Senior Vice President of Extramural Discovery Science at the American Cancer Society, testified today before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health in support of the Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act and the Women and Lung Research and Preventive Services Act.
The SCREENS for Cancer Act reauthorizes the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, also called the NBCCEDP, through 2028. The NBCCEDP provides critical breast and cervical cancer screenings, follow-up, diagnosis and treatment to communities that are of limited income, underserved, under-insured and uninsured in the U.S. The Women and Lung Research and Preventive Services Act provides funds to review and identify opportunities for research on women and lung cancer, including evaluating environmental and genomic factors contributing to lung cancer in women, and advancing new technologies for prevention, risk assessment, diagnosis and treatment.
Annunziata detailed the critical impact these pieces of legislation have on reducing the burden of cancer for women. In 2024, 972,060 women will hear the words “you have cancer” – including 310,720 new cases of breast cancer, 118, 270 new cases of lung cancer and 13,820 new cases of cervical cancer among women.
“Simply put – without the NBCCEDP, more women would be diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer at later stages leading to unnecessary suffering and premature death,” said Annunziata. “Passage of the SCREENS for Cancer Act is necessary to ensure continued timely access to vital breast and cervical cancer screening, which help reduce the unequal cancer burden.”
Regarding the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act, Annunziata said: “in my role at ACS, I lead an interdisciplinary team of scientists to identify and fund the most innovative and promising research to end cancer as we know, it for everyone. The Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act calls for the same scientific process. This type of cutting-edge research tied with evidence-based public education campaigns can truly turn the tide on lung cancer in women.”
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