C3 Advocates Visit Capitol Hill to Strike a Blow Against Colorectal Cancer

After two days of training and strategizing, 65 colorectal cancer advocates took their message to Capitol Hill today that colorectal cancer is a preventable, treatable and beatable disease.

Advocates participating in the 2009 Call-on Congress held face-to-face meetings with their Members of Congress and staff to urge their support of colorectal cancer legislation that would improve access to screenings for those who are poor, uninsured or underinsured, and for a program at the Department of Defense that would conduct research into new treatments and a cure for the disease.

Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) and C3 Advocate Gordon Cole

“I went to Congress today because it is time that colorectal cancer was made a priority at the federal level,” stated Dr. Andrew Giusti, a stage IV colorectal cancer survivor and C3 Board member from California. “As a researcher who has studied this disease, I was able to tell Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and Representative Elton Gallegly that they need to support the colorectal cancer legislation that is currently in Congress because the research just isn’t where it should be right now – it needs more funding.”

Advocates Regan Weaver and Christine LeGrant

While the advocates were meeting with their Members of Congress, C3 was conducting a congressional briefing with the National Coalition for Quality Colorectal Cancer Screening and Care (also known as Preventing Colorectal Cancer.Org) on “The Cost of Failing to Treat the Preventable Cancer.” The purpose of the briefing was to inform Members of Congress and staff that HR 1189, the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act, would save lives and money – and therefore should get their support.

The day wrapped up with a dinner celebrating the advocates’ courage, commitment and passion to win the fight against colorectal cancer.