WASHINGTON, DC – May 23, 2011 — Volunteer advocates from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will join cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, physicians, and researchers from 18 other organizations in Washington, DC, this week to urge lawmakers to support funding for critical cancer research and prevention programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies. A total of nearly 100 advocates from 37 states are uniting as part of the One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) lobby day.
“There are nearly 12 million cancer survivors in America today, thanks to past investment in research. But 1,500 people in America still die every day from this disease,” said John R. Seffrin, CEO of ACS CAN. “We are urging Congress to continue to capitalize on federal investments in research that have resulted in the dramatic progress we have seen during the past 40 years against cancer.”
Now in its 12th year, the OVAC Lobby Day will take place May 23-24 with more than 150 scheduled meetings with Members of Congress and their staff.
Advocates will be encouraging lawmakers to support funding for:
• The NIH, NCI, and National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Ongoing cancer research is on the verge of making great progress in the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer. This progress is in jeopardy absent sustained funding.
• CDC Cancer Programs and keeping these programs intact while other chronic diseases programs are potentially reorganized. The CDC state-based cancer programs provide vital resources for cancer surveillance, breast and cervical screening, and colorectal cancer screening, and awareness initiatives targeting skin, prostate, ovarian, and blood cancers. Cuts in funding would reduce the number of people being served by life-saving screening programs and outreach programs.
• The Federal Patient Navigator Program to help cancer patients navigate the health care system and overcome barriers to access cancer care.
• Efforts at the Food and Drug Administration to further integrate cutting-edge science that will streamline the translation of cancer research from early stage discovery to clinical application.
• The Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act. This funding would support the pediatric cancer programs at NCI, CDC, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
“Past federal investments have put the scientific community on the verge of making groundbreaking new discoveries that could accelerate our progress and bring us closer to ending death and suffering from cancer,” said Christopher W. Hansen, president of ACS CAN. “If federal cancer research funding is not sustained, the promise of recent discoveries may never become reality for people with cancer and their families.”
Recent polling commissioned by ACS CAN shows that more than three-quarters of the public opposes cutting funding for cancer research (77 percent) and prevention programs (76 percent) as part of the effort to reduce federal spending. Public opposition is strong across party lines – more than 60 percent of Republicans, more than 75 percent of Independents and nearly 90 percent of Democrats are opposed to cuts in cancer funding.
According to the Society, it is estimated that 1.5 million people in America will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 560,000 will die from the disease every year. Cancer remains the leading cause of death for all Americans under the age of 85, claiming the lives of 1,500 people each day.
ACS CAN joins the following health care groups participating in this year’s lobby day: American Academy of Dermatology Association, American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society for Radiation Oncology, Fight Colorectal Cancer, Intercultural Cancer Council Caucus, International Myeloma Foundation, LIVESTRONG, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Men's Health Network, National Brain Tumor Society, National Marrow Donor Program, National Patient Advocate Foundation, Oncology Nursing Society, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – PanCAN, Susan G Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance, and Us Too International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network
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.
One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC), a coalition of more than 40 national and community-based organizations, collectively represents millions of Americans since it was founded in 2000. OVAC represents researchers, physicians, patients and families and many others – people working together to make funding for cancer research and prevention programs a national priority. For more information visit: www.ovaconline.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Alissa Havens or Steven Weiss
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: 202-661-5772 or 202-661-5711
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
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