Fight Colorectal Cancer

Marilia Sardinha, C3 Advocate and Steering Committee Member played a vital role in the passing of LD 2109, An Act Relating to Insurance Coverage for Colorectal Cancer Early Detection.

“It was an honor to be a part of it and to know how it will help so many people”, said Marilia. Earlier in the year Marilia was asked by the local chapter of the America Cancer Society to testify during a hearing on the bill.

The Governor of Maine, John E. Baldacci, signed the bill into law on March 26th. The bill requires health insurance policies issued or renewed after Jan. 1, 2009, to provide coverage for colorectal cancer screenings. “We know that the five-year survival rate for those who detected their colon cancer early is 90 percent, but only 39 percent of colon cancers are diagnosed at this stage,” Governor Baldacci said. “That’s why this bill is so important.”

C3 would like to thank Marilia along with the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Edward Mazurek (D-Rockland), for all of their hard work.

Click here to read LD 2109

Image of Marilia with Maine Governor John E. Baldacci used with permission.

Olympus Cameras for a Cause will donate 10 percent of the proceeds from its consumer products sold through the eBay Giving Works auction to C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition and the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (EIF’s NCCRA), to benefit advocacy and research to defeat colorectal cancer.

Go to the Olympus Auctions store on eBay to find point and shoot digital cameras, 35mm film cameras, digital SLR cameras, camera accessories, digital voice recorders and much more.  Your purchase, direct from Olympus, will help the fight against colorectal cancer.

Olympus is a leader in both medical imaging products and consumer electronics, producing

• Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products.
• Advanced clinical and research microscopes.
• Lab automation systems, chemistry-immuno and blood bank analyzers and reagents.
• Digital cameras and voice recorders.

Olympus colonoscopes and other medical equipment are important in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.

All cameras purchased from Olympus on eBay will be shipped with information about colorectal cancer screening.  F. Mark Gumz, President of Olympus America pointed out,

At Olympus, we believe it is our responsibility to help educate, inform and create awareness about colorectal cancer,. Our hope is that through our many Olympus initiatives, we will increase awareness and facilitate discussions about the disease.

In hearing about the Olympus support  C3 President Carlea Bauman said,

C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition is grateful to Olympus for supporting our efforts to fight colorectal cancer through research, empowerment and access. We hope to one day make colorectal cancer no more deadly than the common cold – and we will only accomplish that through an increased commitment to ending this terrible disease. We applaud Olympus’ efforts to raise awareness, and raise the bar.

Colorectal Cancer is Preventable, Treatable, and Beatable

Representative Albert Wynn (D-MD) along with his colleague Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives March 31st, regarding the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Resolution (H. Con. Res. 302).

Representative Wynn, one of the lead sponsors of the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act (HR 1738), recognized C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition for all of our hard work in bringing awareness here in DC, and all over the country, to the need for change in current colorectal cancer policy (or lack there of).

“This tragedy disproportionately affects minorities, particularly African Americans, who are less likely to have health insurance or see a doctor on a regular basis”, said Wynn. “As a result, African Americans are diagnosed later and are 40% more likely to die from the disease.”

Along with Representative Wynn, Kay Granger (R-TX) has taken a strong position on colorectal cancer. Ms. Granger, who was unable to attend the floor debate, had this to say; “I hope that passage of this resolution will help increase awareness of the importance of early detection and screening in combating colorectal cancer. Screenings are easy to do and could save hundreds of thousands of lives if people took advantage of them.” Granger who is the Republican lead on HR 1738 added, “When there is an opportunity to address problems with common sense solutions, we should. And that is what I will continue to do,”

C3 would like thank Representatives Wynn, Granger and Kennedy for all of their hard work on this issue.

Filmmaker Linda Garmon weaves her personal experience with her husband Larry D’Onofrio’s death from cancer into a documentary than looks at the real "truths" of cancer and cancer treatment thirty years after "War on Cancer" was declared.

PBS stations will air her 90 minute documentary The Truth About Cancer  on April 16th at 9:00 pm eastern time. It will be followed by a half hour panel discussion Take One Step: A Conversation About Cancer with Linda Ellerbee.  Check local PBS stations for exact times.

Garmon says,

But the over-riding message of the program—the most important "truth"—is that while it is an intrinsic part of American culture to think that if you fight hard enough, throw enough resources at something and have a positive enough attitude that you can control your destiny, surviving cancer is all about the biology of the cancer cells—and whether they are susceptible to state-of-the-art treatment. Sometimes you can play by all the rules and just have bad biological luck.

Asked "Does your truth about cancer differ from what others may think is the truth about cancer?" Linda Garmon replied,

Yes, there is a tragic amount of emphasis on "just having a positive attitude" and "just fighting harder" when it comes to cancer stories. This puts a ridiculous amount of pressure on cancer patients who simply have aggressive cancers—and for which little can be done! If this program can change anything, I would like it to change the silly notion that you can survive an aggressive cancer if you "just have a positive attitude."

Linda Ellerbee, herself a cancer survivor, will moderate a follow-up discussion with a panel of doctors who have all been diagnosed with cancer.

Watch a Preview of The Truth About Cancer

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The second edition of Frankly Speaking About Colorectal Cancer is ready!

A collaborative project of The Wellness Community and C3:Colorectal Cancer Coalition, Frankly Speaking can be read online.   Or you can obtain a printed copy by calling the C3 national office at 703-548-1225.

The editors write,

The program provides support, education and hope to people affected by colorectal cancer and their loved ones. It provides information on the most current colorectal treatments, symptom/side-effect management strategies, the social and emotional challenges of the diagnosis and survivorship issues specific to people with colorectal cancer. The purpose of this program is to give you the tools and confidence you need to be able to discuss colorectal cancer with your healthcare providers as well as friends and family so you can get the care you need and deserve.