Remember to take part in this year’s Congressional Butt-In. This is your opportunity to speak out and let your Members of Congress know it’s time they start Covering your Butt!
On Wednesday, March 19th, take a few minutes to make one phone call. Simply dial 1-866-615-3375 and follow the instructions.
Thursday, March 13 the Senate passed an amendment (S. Amdt. 4203) to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Congressional Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 70) which increased funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by an additional $2.1 billion. The vote was 95 yeas, 4 nays and 1 not voting
This addition, along with the $950 million already contained in the resolution would provide NIH with an increase of $3 billion or 10.3 percent over the FY 2008 appropriation.
A doubling of the NIH budget started with FY 1998 and ended with FY 2003. These prior investments in cancer research, education, prevention, awareness, treatment and control brought real progress against colon and rectal cancer.
In floor remarks Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the amendment’s sponsor, noted that since the doubling took place “NIH has failed to keep pace with biomedical inflation and as a result has lost 15 percent of its purchasing power.” He added:
“I, like millions of Americans, have benefited tremendously from the investment we have made in the National Institutes of Health and the amendment that we offer today will continue to carry forward the important research work of the world’s premier medical research facility.”
Cosponsors of the amendment were:
Tom Harkin, Iowa
Olympia J. Snowe, Maine
Susan M. Collins, Maine
Robert P. Casey, Jr., Pennsylvania
Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts
Elizabeth Dole, North Carolina
Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland
Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York
Carl Levin, Michigan
John E. Sununu, New Hampshire
Christopher J. Dodd, Connecticut
Daniel K. Inouye, Hawaii
Sherrod Brown, Ohio
Robert Menendez, New Jersey
Debbie Stabenow, Michigan
Norm Coleman, Minnesota
John F. Kerry, Massachusetts
Richard Durbin, Illinois
Ted Stevens, Alaska
Gordon H. Smith, Oregon
Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico
Thad Cochran, Mississippi
Benjamin L. Cardin, Maryland
John D. Rockefeller, IV, West Virginia
Barak Obama, Illinois
Blanche L. Lincoln, Arkansas
Frank R. Lautenberg, New Jersey
Tim Johnson, South Dakota
Orrin G. Hatch, Utah
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Delaware
Please take this time to contact your Senators and either thank them for voting for the amendment or express your disappointment if they voted against it.
New Program Seeks to Break Down Boundaries That Can Limit Treatment Options for Older Colorectal Cancer Patients
Alexandria, VA, March 11 -– C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition (C3) will announce today the 2008 award recipients of the Breaking Boundaries program, an initiative aimed at raising awareness of the need to break down the boundaries that can limit appropriate treatment of older colorectal cancer patients. Breaking Boundaries honors the outstanding leadership achievements of older patients who have been successfully treated for colorectal cancer and continue to serve their communities and other patients.
Three extraordinary women will be recognized for their valuable leadership contributions during the Breaking Boundaries Awards Dinner and Reception as the culmination of the C3 annual “Call-on Congress” advocacy initiative during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March. Representatives of C3 and renowned thought leader in oncology, Dr. Richard Goldberg, associate director of The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at The University of North Carolina, selected the award recipients.
As part of the C3 Call-on Congress, on Tuesday, March 11th, the three Breaking Boundaries honorees will visit their Members of Congress in their Capitol Hill offices to lobby for legislation that will guarantee access to colorectal cancer screening for millions of Americans.
“We initiated the Breaking Boundaries program as a way to showcase older colorectal cancer patients who exemplify what can be achieved when appropriately treated,” said Carlea Bauman, President, C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition. “We are thrilled to honor older Americans who have come through colorectal cancer treatment to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others.”
A key objective of Breaking Boundaries is to highlight the need for older colorectal cancer patients to have equal access to the full range of treatment options, based on standard clinical factors such as tumor size and growth rate, regardless of their age.
“Colorectal cancer is primarily diagnosed in patients age 50 and over, so we need to ensure that these individuals have access to all available treatment options based on standard clinical factors such as tumor size, cancer spread to lymph nodes and tumor growth rate,” said Dr. Goldberg. “Recent research, including a study I published last year, showed that combination chemotherapy after surgery is as safe and effective for patients over 65 as for younger patients.”
Dr. Goldberg will present the 2008 Breaking Boundaries award to the exemplary
colorectal cancer survivors who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to breaking down the myths associated with chemotherapy for the treatment of colorectal cancer in patients 65 years and older. They are:
Carol Larson of Minneapolis, Minnesota – Recognized for her contributions in patient advocacy. Carol was diagnosed in 1999 with Stage III colorectal cancer, and has since undergone treatment with surgery and chemotherapy. Looking for information and support, Carol joined the Advocates for Colorectal Cancer (ACE), a patient-centered support group affiliated with the Minnesota Colon Cancer Coalition. Now she provides that support to others as a board member of ACE. In addition, Carol serves as the 2008-09 co- president of the Ostomy Association of Minneapolis.
Kate Murphy of Skaneateles, New York – Recognized for her service to the online colorectal cancer community. Kate was diagnosed with Stage I colorectal cancer in 2007, her third bout of colon cancer. Since being diagnosed, she has been devoted to working with the Association of Cancer Online Resources to provide information and support through its integrated system of online discussion groups. Kate helps ACOR maintain its Internet mailing list focused on colorectal cancer. Recently, Kate received ACOR’s first Myth-Breaker Award in recognition of her dedication to the colorectal cancer community.
June Melvin of Fair Oaks, California – Recognized for nearly 50 years of service to the Fair Oaks community and an ongoing commitment to improving the lives of its residents. First diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2005, June underwent surgery and has been undergoing chemotherapy intermittently during the past year. Throughout treatment, June has continued her longstanding history of participation in local civic and political activities, such as her local historical society. In 2007, June was recognized for her exemplary service by The Woman’s Thursday Club of Fair Oaks and the Fair Oaks Historical Society.
Colorectal Cancer Most Prevalent Among 50+ Population
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 52,000 men and women died of colorectal cancer in 2007.
More than 90 percent of colorectal cancer cases are in people 50 and older. The elderly population has a significantly greater likelihood of developing CRC than do younger individuals. The American Cancer Society recommends that treatment not be withheld on the basis of age.
About C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition (C3)
C3 pushes for research to improve screening, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal cancer; for policy decisions that make the most effective colorectal cancer prevention and treatment available to all; and for increased awareness that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable.
Forty advocates from across the US will come to Washington, DC, tomorrow to take the fight against colorectal cancer into the halls of Congress.
The C3 Call-on Congress will provide advocates with information about how the government weighs-in on colorectal cancer. They will hear from soldiers in the fight such as:
Dr. Richard Goldberg, Chief of Hematology and Oncology at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, who will talk about how cuts to cancer funding are hurting colorectal cancer patients.
Reverend Vaughn Profit-Breaux, a colorectal cancer patient who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer early thanks to a state program that is the model for HR 1738, which would guarantee access to colorectal cancer screening to the poor, uninsured and underinsured.
The advocates will then learn how THEY can make a difference for all colorectal cancer patients from leaders in the field such as:
Jeff Martin, Director of Advocacy Training at the American Cancer Society, who will help the advocates learn how they can build an army of advocates back home.
Ryan McKee, Legislative Director for Congressman Vito Fossella (R-NY-District 13), who will tell the advocates what to expect when they meet with their Members of Congress; and
Christopher Kush, MPP, CEO of Soapbox Consulting, who has trained thousands of federal, state, and local advocates to effectively advocate for their issues.
On Tuesday, March 11th, the advocates will descend on Capitol Hill for face-to-face meetings with their Members of Congress and their staff. The advocates will be lobbying for the bills outlined in the Cover Your Butt Campaign and for an increase in cancer funding at the National Cancer Institute.
We’ll celebrate the advocates’ successful meetings at the C3 Advocates and Breaking Boundaries Awards Dinner on Tuesday evening, where we will undoubtedly hear about the many inspiring moments that took place on Capitol Hill that day.
The advocates attending the Call-on Congress come from all walks of life. There will be advocates in their 30s all the way up to their 80s. There will be patients, family members of patients, activists and widows. Many will be making their first trip to Washington, DC. Some of them are very sick.
As they make their way to Washington, DC, today, there is a good chance the advocates are terrified of what we have planned for them. But they come anyway because they are driven by the need to make the world better for themselves and for every other colorectal cancer patient out there. They are soldiers in the fight, and they are our heroes.
Here is a chance to tell your Members of Congress how you feel.
Take a few minutes on Wednesday, March 19th, and participate in the C3 Congressional Butt-In. It’s simple and fun! Just dial 1-866-615-3375 and follow the instructions.
