Call 1-866-615-3375 and ask your Representative and Senators to “cosponsor the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act introduced by Representatives Kay Granger and Jim McGovern and by Senators Joseph Lieberman and Kay Bailey Hutchison”

Thanks to advocates like you, we have already called over 200 Members of Congress.

But, we need to reach more Members if we are going to get this life-saving piece of legislation enacted into law. So please take 5 minutes to call 1-866-615-3375 and ask your legislators to cosponsor the “Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act.”

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

For additional information, please visit http://link.fightcrc.org/butt-in.

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.

The program will research cancers, like colorectal cancer, that are not addressed in the breast, prostate, lung and ovarian cancer research programs run by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC).  In addition to colorectal cancer research, the funds will be used to conduct research in the following areas: melanoma and other skin cancers, pediatric brain tumors within the field of childhood cancer research, genetic cancer research and genomic medicine, kidney cancer, blood cancer, Listeria Vaccine for infectious disease and cancer, and radiation protection utilizing nanotechnology.

The $15 million in funding for this new cancer research program was included at the request of Representatives Kay Granger (R-TX) and Jim Moran (D-VA).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 16, 2009

C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition
1414 Prince Street, Suite 204
Alexandria, VA 22314
http://www.fightcolorectalcancer.org

Contact:  Catherine Knowles (202) 276-5682

House Creates New Cancer Research Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As a result of C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition’s advocacy efforts, $15 million for a new peer reviewed cancer research program is included in the final Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill.

This new cancer research program will research cancers, like colorectal cancer, that are not addressed in the breast, prostate, lung and ovarian cancer research programs run by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command.

The $15 million in funding for this new cancer research program was included in the final bill at the request of Representatives Kay Granger (R-TX) and Jim Moran (D-VA).

Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) released the following statement today following House passage of the defense bill:

“I was pleased to support funding for colorectal cancer research through the establishment of a new peer reviewed cancer research program.  Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the US.  However, federal funding for colorectal cancer research has lagged behind funding for other diseases and I was pleased to support the creation of a peer reviewed cancer research program that will help to address this disparity.”

Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) released the following statement today following House passage of the defense bill:

“The recognition of the need for peer-reviewed research of colorectal cancer in the Defense Appropriations Bill is a testament to the professionalism and commitment of C3. They are as well informed as they are nice, an absolute pleasure to work with.”

Dr. John L. Marshall, Division Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Georgetown University Hospital, Associate Director, Clinical Research, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, released the following statement today following House passage of the defense bill:

“As a researcher, I know first hand how difficult it is to secure funding for innovative cancer research. The $15 million in funding for a new peer reviewed cancer research program will not only help attract new researchers but it will play an important role in developing new treatments for colorectal cancer. I look forward to the implementation of this new program and the discoveries and innovations the funding will secure.”

Carlea Bauman, President of C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition released the following statement today following House passage of the defense bill:

“The $15 million in funding for this new peer reviewed cancer research program will fund research efforts that investigate new methods of studying early detection, screening and treatment of colorectal cancer as well as attracting new researchers to the field. Today marks an important milestone in the fight against colorectal cancer with research on track to receive its fair share of federal resources. We thank the House Appropriations Committee, and especially Representatives Granger and Moran for recognizing the need to step up the fight against this disease.”

C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition (C3) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization seeking to eliminate suffering and death due to colorectal cancer. C3 pushes for research to improve screening, diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer; advocates for policy decisions that make the most effective colorectal cancer prevention and treatment available to all; and works to increase awareness that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable.

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Download press release in PDF format.

C3 President Carlea Bauman, Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX), and C3 Director of Policy Joe Arite

Representative Kay Granger (R-TX), C3 advocate Gordon Cole, who is a stage IV colorectal cancer survivor, and C3 President Carlea Bauman will be interviewed about ways to get involved in the fight against colorectal cancer on Tuesday, March 24th at 4 PM EDT/1 PM PST.

The interview will be broadcast on the “Frankly Speaking About Cancer” internet talk radio show on the Voice America™ Network’s Health & Wellness Channel. The show is hosted by The Wellness Community President & CEO Kim Thiboldeaux.

Tune into the show and learn how you can get involved in efforts to create a National Colorectal Cancer Screening Program. The show will also be available to download and listen after the airdate and time at the link below.

Tune in or download the show

C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition would like to thank Representatives Kay Granger (R-TX) and Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) for their continued leadership on colorectal cancer issues in Congress. With the recent reintroduction of The Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act (HR 1189), they have taken the initial steps needed to pass legislation that in the end has the potential to save thousands of lives.

The bipartisan legislation would establish a program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and would authorize $50 million in funding for grants to the states. The grants would be used to conduct programs to provide vital colon cancer screenings, information and follow-up services to those ages 50-64, with a focus on those most at risk, such as low-income, uninsured and underinsured men and women.

It is estimated that colorectal cancer will claim over 50,000 lives in 2009 alone which makes it the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. When screened early, however, colorectal cancer patients have a 90% survival rate. Disparities play a significant role in these staggering statistics, as being uninsured often impedes access to colon cancer screening tests, which would detect the disease at an earlier, more treatable stage or even prevent it before it starts.

Similar programs such as the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) have been extremely successful. From January 2001 to December 2005 the NBCCEDP screened over 1.7 million people and was able to detect over 13,000 breast cancers and over 21,000 cervical cancers.

The bill also requires grantees to provide the full range of cancer care, including follow up of abnormal tests, access to diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy and treatment for detected cancers. As a result, the program will boost testing rates, reduce colorectal cancer disparities and save lives. This terrible disease can and will be beaten.