C3 is working with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to organize meetings over the President’s Day District Work Period with Senators and Representatives to ask for their support for increased federal funding for cancer research and cancer control programs.

You may not be able to travel to DC in March to participate in the 2010 Call-on Congress, but this is your chance to meet with your representatives and talk with them about the importance of increasing federal funding for cancer research. Read the rest of this entry »

American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer Otis W. Brawley, M.D., says that he is disappointed in the decision by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services not to cover CT colonography screening for elderly Americans on Medicare.

Dr. Brawley points out that randomized clinical trials have shown the CTC option as effective as traditional optical colonoscopy in finding early cancers and precancerous polyps.  He also concerned that there is not a sufficient supply of trained specialists providing colonoscopy to meet the need for screening and that new options are needed.

The American Cancer Society believes, Brawley says, that a full battery of testing for colorectal cancer screening should be available, particularly to the Medicare population who are at higher risk of developing and dying from colorectal cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

The American Cancer Society has a good web page for cancer patients about influenza H1N1 with links to more answers from the Centers for Disease Control and ACS Infections in People with Cancer.

The ACS recommends that people with cancer:

• Avoid large crowds, people with fever, flu or infection, and small children who go to schools or daycare.
• Wash their hands often or use a santizing gel.
• Cover their mouths and noses when they sneeze with a tissue and throw it away.
• Avoid touching their eyes, noses, or mouths.
• Talk to their doctors about risk of infection and possible use of Tamiflu or Relenza.

I recently had a chance to attend the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s Fight Back Express Bus tour when it pulled into Maine’s state capital. I was excited, since things like this rarely happen in my area and with it only being 20 minutes away, I had to go.  I couldn’t miss the opportunity to help spread the word about colorectal cancer and talk about Cover Your Butt.

The Maine Attorney General spoke as well as aides for both of our Senators and our Congressman.  A local oncologist was also there supporting the effort.

Read the rest of this entry »