Paulette was just 44 years old when she was diagnosed with rectal cancer.  After 14 months of treatment, this February, she got the good news that she is cancer free.  Like so many advocates, Paulette has turned her fight with cancer into a mission to help others.  In March, she organized the inaugural “Paulette Steps Toward Cancer Wellness” 5K run/1-mile walk to raise money for CentraState Hospital in New Jersey where she received her treatment.

Paulette had a very busy March.  Not only did she organize a run that attracted more than 350 participants and raised over $26,000 for CentraState Hospital, she also participated in C3′s Congressional Butt-In.  She recruited friends and colleagues from across New Jersey to participate in the Butt-In, and thanks to her efforts every member of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation received calls from constituents asking them to support the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189).

Read more about Paulette’s story as well as interviews with other cancer survivors in the New York Times article.

On March 30-31, 2010 advocates from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico called their Representatives in Congress, urging them to support the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189) during the annual Congressional Butt-In.

The Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189) will establish a program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide colorectal cancer screenings and treatment for low-income, uninsured and underinsured individuals who are not eligible for Medicare.

Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) and sponsor of H.R. 1189, released the following statement:

“Like advocates across the country, finding ways to effectively fight colorectal cancer is a very personal issue for me.  I look forward to the day when we have a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program in place.  Such a program will save thousands of lives and save billions of taxpayer dollars in reduced Medicare expenditures.  I thank the C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, and the advocates from across the country who took the time to call Congress today for their support of my bill.  Together we can get H.R. 1189 enacted into law.”

Carlea Bauman, President of the C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition, released the following statement:

“Today colorectal cancer advocates from across the country spoke up and urged their Representatives to support legislation that will strike a blow against this disease that kills 50,000 Americans each year. I applaud them for their passion and commitment. I am also grateful for the partnership of the Prevent Cancer Foundation on this effort.  Together we will see the vision of a national screening and treatment program for colorectal cancer become a reality.”

Lisa Hughes, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Prevent Cancer Foundation, released the following statement:

“Constituent voices have a major impact on Members of Congress and their policy priorities.  The overwhelming show of support for H.R. 1189 demonstrates a clear need for a Federally-supported screening program for colorectal cancer, and we are hopeful that Congress will act to pass this legislation.  We extend our thanks to those that took the time to call today, and to our partners in this effort, C3: the Colorectal Cancer Coalition.”

While the recently enacted health care reform legislation will lower the cost of preventive services like colonoscopies for many Americans, the health care reform legislation will not do anything to increase awareness about the importance of early detection and screening. Today, even among those with health insurance, screening rates for colorectal cancer are much too low – less than half of those who should be screened get screened.

When colorectal cancer is detected early and treated, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent. However, less than 50 percent of U.S. adults aged 50 and older have been screened according to recommended guidelines. Due to low screening rates, less than 40 percent of colorectal cancers are found early. Education and outreach included in HR1189 are crucial to improving these rates.

Already today, we have reached over 160 Members of Congress!  Did you call your Representative? Take a minute, and let us know how the call went in the form below.

And be sure to tell your friends, family, and colleagues to call 1-866-615-3375 and ask their Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.  Together we will make the vision of a national screening and treatment program for colorectal cancer a reality.

“Share my voice and experience for a disease that is preventable, treatable, and beatable. Advocates from across the country joined together wearing Cover Your Butt t-shirts and descended upon Capitol Hill to encourage legislators to support three legislative proposals that will help us win the fight against colorectal cancer.”

Read more about Suzanne’s Call-on Congress experience in Cure Magazine.

When Suzanne met with her Members of Congress, she asked them to cosponsor legislation that will create a national screening and treatment for colorectal cancer similar to what we currently have in place for breast and cervical cancer.

Is your Representative a cosponsor of this important legislation?  If not, today is your chance to call your Representative and get them to cosponsor H.R. 1189.  Call 1-866-615-3375 anytime from 9 AM to 5:30 PM EDT, and ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

Don’t know what to say when you call?  We have a detailed script that you can use.

Verna traveled to DC to participate in the 2010 Call-on Congress because:

“I’m back attending because we still haven’t reached our goal of having a colorectal Cancer prevention, early detection and treatment act passed into law.

Read more about Verna’s story in the City Suburban News.

Take five minutes today and help Verna reach her goal of seeing a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program enacted into law.  Call 1-866-615-3375 anytime from 9 AM to 5:30 PM EDT, and ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

Don’t know what to say when you call?  We have a detailed script that you can use.

Rochelle took time off from work to participate in the 2010 Call-on Congress because:

“I believe that awareness, education, and early screening and detection are paramount with a preventable disease like colon cancer.”

Read more about Rochelle’s story at Fredricksburg.com.

When Rochelle met with her Members of Congress, she asked them to cosponsor legislation that will create a national screening and treatment for colorectal cancer similar to what we currently have in place for breast and cervical cancer.

Is your Representative a cosponsor of this life-saving legislation?  If not, today is your chance to call your Representative and ask him/her to cosponsor H.R. 1189.  Call 1-866-615-3375 anytime from 9 AM to 5:30 PM EDT, and ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

Don’t know what to say when you call?  We have a detailed script that you can use.

Don’t know what to say when you call?  Download a detailed script.

H.R. 1189 will create a national treatment and screening program for colorectal cancer – a program that remains important even in the wake of health care reform.  While the recently enacted health care reform legislation will lower the cost of preventive services like colonoscopies for many Americans, the health care reform legislation will not do anything to increase awareness about the importance of early detection and screening.  To do that, we need H.R. 1189 enacted.

Today is your chance to help us win the fight against colorectal cancer and make the vision of a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program a reality.  Take five minutes to call Congress and ask your Representative to support H.R. 1189.

For more details, and updates go to www.coveryourbutt.org.

Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper

Along with Preventing Colorectal Cancer.org and the Prevent Cancer Foundation, C3 hosted a Congressional briefing in order to provide Members and health care staff with information about current colorectal cancer screening programs that work and pending legislation that has the potential to save thousands of lives and billions in Medicare expenditures by expanding access to colorectal cancer screening and treatment.

Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper spoke at the briefing about the impact of colorectal cancer on women and to urge support for her recently-introduced resolution.  A champion for the health care and wellness needs of women, Representative Dahlkemper discussed the importance of early detection and screening in the fight against colorectal cancer.

“Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in both women and men in the United States, yet many people are unaware of the need to be screened for this disease.  As many as 44,000 lives a year could be saved if colorectal cancer screening was fully accessible and utilized.  Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is about educating men and women to save lives. I am proud to be part of this important effort to raise awareness and help in the fight against colorectal cancer.”

Dr. Laura Seeff, Acting Branch Chief, Comprehensive Cancer Control Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spoke about the CDC’s colorectal cancer control programs.  The CDC’s cancer control programs have been highly successful in increasing population-based screening rates.  The program began as a demonstration project at five sites, and Congress recently provided the funding to expand the program to twenty-six states and tribal territories.  The CDC program is the model for the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act introduced by Congresswoman Kay Granger.

Representative Granger’s health care advisor, Theresa Vawter, attended the briefing and spoke about the bill and why even with health care reform we still need H.R. 1189 enacted in order to increase population-based screening rates and win the fight against colorectal cancer.

Dr. John Marshall, Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Georgetown University Hospital Associate Director, Clinical Research, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center spoke about colorectal cancer from the clinician’s perspective.  Dr. Marshall spoke of the frustration of seeing patients every day in his practice that he shouldn’t see simply because those individuals who should be screened for colorectal cancer continue to delay and/or avoid screening.  He also gave an overview for attendees about current screening rates.

The briefing was moderated by Dr. Steven Morris, Chair Person and Founding Board Member, Preventing Colorectal Cancer.org and President, Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates.  It provided Congressional staff and other attendees with an overview of the current state of colorectal cancer screening and programs.

Josh and Kimberly Wimberly

Josh and Kimberly Wimberly traveled from Alabama to Washington DC, and participated in C3′s 4th Annual Call-on Congress earlier this week.  They met with Representative Spencer Bachus’s health policy staff and asked for the Representative’s support of legislation that will help save thousands of lives and increase awareness regarding the importance of early detection and screening for colorectal cancer.

As a direct result of their efforts, Representative Bachus signed on to cosponsor the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189).

Is your Representative a cosponsor of this important legislation?  If not, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1189.  Or take a minute to email your Representative and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 1189.

* * * Remember, the House of Representatives is set to vote on health care reform Sunday afternoon.  As a result the House email system and Capitol Switchboard are experiencing high volumes of traffic.  If you can’t get through today please try again next week.  We need your voice to win the fight against colorectal cancer!! * * *

Theresa Vawter, Legislative Assistant for Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) who is the sponsor of the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act (H.R. 1189) which would put in place a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program participated in a panel along with Tom Wharton, Health Care Legislative Assistant and Speechwriter for Representative Dan Boren (D-OK).  Representative Boren is the sponsor of the Colorectal Cancer Screening and Treatment Act (H.R. 1330) which will help to increase population-based screening rates for colorectal cancer by requiring all health insurance plans, both individual and group, to cover a colonoscopy for anyone age 50 or older.

Theresa and Tom spoke with the advocates about why each of their bosses is such a champion for colorectal cancer issues.  Like too many Americans, both Representative Granger and Representative Boren have lost family members to this disease.  Each is using their position as Member of Congress to push legislation that if enacted will lower the cost of colonoscopies and expand access to screening and treatment services.

The tips and advice they shared with the advocates helped to prepare them to head to Capitol Hill and meet with their Members of Congress.

On Wednesday, March 17 the advocates marched to Capitol Hill to ask their legislators to support:

• $50 million in funding for the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) at the Department of Defense for Fiscal Year 2011.  This program at the Department of Defense funds research for a number of cancers including colorectal cancer.
• The Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1189) which would establish a national colorectal cancer screening and treatment program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• The Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection Act (H.R. 1330) would require all health insurance plans, both individual and group, to cover a colonoscopy for anyone age 50 or older.

Their voices were heard on Capitol Hill, and will continue to make a difference in the fight against colorectal cancer!