The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) says that declining budgets at the National Institutes of Health a crisis standing in the way of bringing cancer research to patient’s lives.

For the past ten years, NIH budgets have been essentially flat.  Factoring in rising research costs, flat funding means a loss of nearly $6 billion dollars in purchasing power.

AACR is calling on its members and the advocacy community to work even harder with Congress to invest in medical research.  The AACR board of directors said,

Therefore, the AACR announced this morning that it plans to redouble its efforts to engage with Congress to make research funding a higher national priority, raise public awareness of the importance of continued investment in cancer research, and call on its 34,000 members and broader advocacy community constituencies to join together to help better explain and illustrate the value of cancer research and biomedical science to the economic health and well-being of this nation.

AACR President Judy E. Garber, MD, MPH said,

We already see the effects on our most precious resource, young investigators. This is potentially disastrous, as we are relying on them to ensure the continuing pipeline of new discoveries that will have ever greater impact on the welfare of patients and the public health.

AACR is holding its 2012 annual meeting in Chicago this week – Accelerating Science: Concept to Clinic.

Fight Colorectal Cancer President Carlea Bauman was joined by staff, survivors, advocates and fighters to “get behind a cure” and ring the NASDAQ closing bell.

We ring the bell to bring attention that colorectal cancer is the number two cancer killer in America. We need awareness that colorectal cancer can be prevented, treated, and beaten. We are issuing a call to action to increase funding for research, better access to colorectal screening, and the very best treatment for every American who is diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer.

On stage with Carlea was: Ben Basloe, Todd Jones, Josh Young, Rose Hausmann, Joanne Kimmel, Dana Rye, Katelyn Sherry and David Dubin.

Alaska Native Americans have a much higher rate of both colorectal cancer and resulting deaths than other populations—about twice those of the U.S. white population (age-adjusted) for the period of 2004 to 2008. They also have the highest rate of CRC cases of all Native American groups—nearly five times higher than American Indians living in the Southwest, for example.

The reasons? Unknown. But health officials do know that improved screening can prevent CRC, and earlier CRC detection saves lives. And in fact, statewide screening rates among Alaskan Natives improved from 29 percent in 2000, to 41 percent in 2005. Read the rest of this entry »

Seniors’ access to a screening colonoscopy is at risk and YOU can help!

We need you to continue to add your voice and urge your Representative to support H.R. 4120! Simply submit an Action Alert.

H.R. 4120, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2012, will fix a regulation that requires Medicare beneficiaries to pay coinsurance when their screening colonoscopy involves the removal of a polyp. The current policy can cost patients $100 to $300 and serve as a deterrent to screening.

We need cosponsors for this legislation if it is to pass into law & YOU can help!

Fight those Cougars!

Colon, ovarian, uterine, gastric, renal, and skin cancer. All Lynch syndrome related cancers, and all significantly increased in families with Lynch syndrome mutations. Brain and small bowel cancer risks are also higher.

In addition, new evidence finds that pancreatic and breast cancer are also part of Lynch syndrome.

Today, people living with Lynch syndrome come together with researchers, genetic counselors, and healthcare professionals to spread the word that Lynch syndrome can be managed. But first it needs to be recognized.

Awareness saves lives.

Careful family histories and routine testing after surgery can identify people who have one of the genes that cause Lynch syndrome. When you find one affected person, you can also find family members who also carry the gene. Read the rest of this entry »