Today, Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), announced the appointment of the following 15 individuals to the Methodology Committee of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

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We are very pleased to announce that U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) will be joining us on our February Grassroots Advocate Chat to talk about what the House Energy and Commerce Committee will be working on this year. Register today to talk with Rep. Burgess.

WHAT: Grassroots Advocate Chat
DATE: Wednesday, February 16
TIME: 8:00PM (eastern)
WHERE: Sign up at http://link.fightcrc.org/chatregistration to get the call-in details

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This evening, the House of Representatives paid tribute to outgoing House Appropriations Chairman David Obey. The spontaneous tribute from his fellow appropriators was made during debate on the last appropriations bill Chairman Obey will oversee.

The bill passed the Senate earlier in the day, and House passage by a vote of 193-165 sends the measure to the President for his review and signature.

The short-term continuing resolution funds the federal government through March 4, 2011. It funds most programs including the Department of Defense cancer research programs, the National Institutes of Health cancer research programs, and the cancer control programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at fiscal year 2010 levels. Read the rest of this entry »

Earlier this evening, Congressman Dan Boren (OK-2) joined us a special guest during our monthly Grassroots Advocate Chat to share his personal story and explain why he is such a passionate champion in the fight against colorectal cancer. He commended the advocates on the call for the work they are doing. As he explained, it is simple – “Advocates Are Saving Lives!”

As we end the year, and get ready for a new Congress to convene, Rep. Boren had some advice and tips to share with us…

“Colorectal Cancer Is Not Sexy”

“It Is A Non-Partisan Issue”

“Not That Many Members of Congress Have Been Personally Touched by Colorectal Cancer”

“Get Involved, and Get to Know Your Representative Individually”

– Rep. Dan Boren (OK-2)

Congressman Boren also shared with us the news that he is working on a bill that would authorize the sale of a postage stamp to fund colorectal cancer research! We will be continuing to work with the Congressman on this legislation so that it is ready to introduce early next year and we will be lobbying to support the bill during the 2011 Call-on Congress.

Watch Congressman Boren’s complete remarks.

Almost half of the colorectal cases in the United States are diagnosed at late-stages of the diseases when treatment is more difficult, according to a new report released today by the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC). Significant findings of the study “Surveillance of Screening-Detected Cancers (Colon and Rectum, Breast, and Cervix) — United States, 2004-2006” include:

* Incidence rates of late-stage colorectal cancer increased with age and were highest among black men and women.
* Late-stage colon and rectum incidence rates ranged from 51.0 to 86.5, and were highest in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

“This report causes concern because so many preventable cancers are not being diagnosed when treatment is most effective,” said Marcus Plescia, MD, MPH, Director, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. “More work is needed to widely implement evidence-based cancer screening tests which may lead to early detection and, ultimately, an increase in the number of lives saved.”

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