Legislation Introduced Addressing the Needs of Cancer Survivors
June 16, 2006
In May, Representatives Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD) introduced H.R. 5390, the Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act of 2006. The bill will allow the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand and further coordinate programs and activities involving cancer survivorship research. The bill also promotes the Office of Cancer Survivorship to the Division of Cancer Survivorship reporting directly to the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This position is currently under Acting Director Dr. John E. Niederhuber. Financially, the bill requests at least $50 million be given to the Division of Cancer Survivorship for research and an additional $61 million given each year for the next five years to NCI designated cancer centers for cancer survivorship research.
Although the bill’s findings discuss pediatric cancer, the actual provisions are not geared specifically to meet the needs of childhood cancer survivors. For example, funding for cancer survivorship research at NCI designated cancer centers will not help many of the children’s hospitals. Currently, there are 50 NCI designated cancer centers and approximately 200 Children’s Oncology Group (COG) hospitals.
The bill suggests the creation of the National Commission on Cancer Survivorship to coordinate the activities of the Department of Health and Human Services related to cancer survivorship. The commission will be made up of government representatives, patient representatives and private organizations and will have the mission of determining cancer research priorities. Hopefully, the pediatric community will be strongly represented in this group.
As a childhood cancer survivor advocate, you can contact your elected officials and encourage them to support this bill and to add additional language addressing the unique needs of childhood cancer survivors. The bill can be found at the Thomas website.
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June 16, 2006
In May, Representatives Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD) introduced H.R. 5390, the Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act of 2006. The bill will allow the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand and further coordinate programs and activities involving cancer survivorship research. The bill also promotes the Office of Cancer Survivorship to the Division of Cancer Survivorship reporting directly to the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This position is currently under Acting Director Dr. John E. Niederhuber. Financially, the bill requests at least $50 million be given to the Division of Cancer Survivorship for research and an additional $61 million given each year for the next five years to NCI designated cancer centers for cancer survivorship research.Although the bill’s findings discuss pediatric cancer, the actual provisions are not geared specifically to meet the needs of childhood cancer survivors. For example, funding for cancer survivorship research at NCI designated cancer centers will not help many of the children’s hospitals. Currently, there are 50 NCI designated cancer centers and approximately 200 Children’s Oncology Group (COG) hospitals.
The bill suggests the creation of the National Commission on Cancer Survivorship to coordinate the activities of the Department of Health and Human Services related to cancer survivorship. The commission will be made up of government representatives, patient representatives and private organizations and will have the mission of determining cancer research priorities. Hopefully, the pediatric community will be strongly represented in this group.
As a childhood cancer survivor advocate, you can contact your elected officials and encourage them to support this bill and to add additional language addressing the unique needs of childhood cancer survivors. The bill can be found at the Thomas website.
<< Back
