Advocates for Childhood Cancer Urge Congress to Act
July 05, 2007
CureSearch Sounds the Alarm for Funding Childhood Cancer Research at Reach the Day: Conquer Childhood Cancer in DC
BETHESDA, MD, July 2, 2007 (Source: CureSearch)–More than 350 people touched by cancer, along with their physicians, nurses, and social workers, met with more than 200 Congressional leaders to urge support of the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act 2007 at the Reach the Day: Conquer Childhood Cancer event hosted by CureSearch.
The group of compassionate advocates urged Congressional leaders to make childhood cancer a national priority. During the past few years, the amount of funding for childhood cancer clinical research from the federal government has been declining. In response to the most recent cutbacks, the National Cancer Institute has decreased funding which especially impacts childhood cancer research.
At a time when breakthroughs can be made in treating all childhood cancer and the quality of life for children with cancer improved, the cutbacks in government funding will endanger the development of new clinical trials and threaten progress in curing childhood cancer. For the first time in pediatric oncology history, federal funding cuts may result in 20 studies being put on hold and enrollment decreased in new clinical trials by 400 children.
Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Representatives Deborah Pryce (R-OH) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined those attending the event on Capitol Hill this week. A Senate press conference, meetings with congressional representatives and a rally were part of the day’s activities designed to attain support for a childhood cancer research funding bill pending in Congress.
Until now, advances in childhood cancer have been dramatic—40 years ago cure rates were less than 10 percent; today, 78 percent overall are cured. Yet, cancer still is the #1 cause of death by disease in children and 1 out of 5 children diagnosed with cancer dies.
“When a child is diagnosed with cancer, suddenly the whole family’s life can change overnight. Often times, a parent will have to quit their job to stay home and care for their child,” stated Senator Jack Reed. “This bill is designed to help more families find the best care possible and at the same time provide some comfort and much needed resources.”
The Childhood Cancer Act 2007 authorizes $150 million over a five-year period to expand support for biomedical research programs NCI-designated multi-center national infrastructure for pediatric cancer research, establish a population-based national childhood cancer registry, enable researchers to more accurately study the incidence of childhood cancers and long-term effects of treatments, and provide funding for informational and educational services to families coping with a diagnosis of childhood cancer.
“One in every 600 children has cancer. Each day that research goes under funded, the challenge to discovering new treatments and cures becomes more difficult and the lives of children are unfairly jeopardized,” said Gregory Reaman, M.D., Chairman of the Children’s Oncology Group.
The Senate bill (S. 911) is cosponsored by Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Jack Reed (D-RI). “Childhood cancer has tragically claimed far too many lives, but I believe there still is hope,” said Senator Coleman. “Although we’re finally making progress on increasing survivorship, we’re finding that there are unique health issues faced by survivors throughout their lifetime. This legislation helps ensure that researchers, physicians and families have the tools they need to confront this disease. By working together, we can hopefully get that much closer to finding a cure to this terrible disease.”
In the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH) sponsors the legislation (H.R.1553). “This bill targets federal resources and research against the cancers afflicting children nationwide, and elevates our nation’s prioritization of pediatric cancer through additional funding, improved treatment, and more centralized, accessible information for patients and their families. And as the family of any child with cancer knows, accessible information about the disease and treatment options is a critical ingredient in negating some of the tremendous fear and uncertainty that comes with learning that your child has cancer. Families must focus all their energies on healing – and our bill helps them do that.”
Co-sponsor of the House bill, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), said, "We can conquer childhood cancer by boosting our investment in life-saving research. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this critical legislation so we can find cures to the cancers that continue to kill more children than any other disease." Other House cosponsors include Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Joe Sestak (D-PA).
“Each child that dies from cancer is one child too many,” said Stacy Haller, Executive Director of the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. “Working with our friends in Congress, our dedicated pediatric oncologists, nurses and other caregivers, along with the relentless support of the hundreds of CureSearch families who have been touched by cancer, we will not stop until this legislation has passed. The future of our children is at stake.”
About CureSearch:
CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation supports the work of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), the world’s largest cooperative cancer research organization, that treats approximately 90% of all children with cancer, at more than 235 children’s and university hospitals and Cancer Centers in the U.S. For more information, visit the Web site.
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July 05, 2007
CureSearch Sounds the Alarm for Funding Childhood Cancer Research at Reach the Day: Conquer Childhood Cancer in DC
BETHESDA, MD, July 2, 2007 (Source: CureSearch)–More than 350 people touched by cancer, along with their physicians, nurses, and social workers, met with more than 200 Congressional leaders to urge support of the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act 2007 at the Reach the Day: Conquer Childhood Cancer event hosted by CureSearch.
The group of compassionate advocates urged Congressional leaders to make childhood cancer a national priority. During the past few years, the amount of funding for childhood cancer clinical research from the federal government has been declining. In response to the most recent cutbacks, the National Cancer Institute has decreased funding which especially impacts childhood cancer research.
At a time when breakthroughs can be made in treating all childhood cancer and the quality of life for children with cancer improved, the cutbacks in government funding will endanger the development of new clinical trials and threaten progress in curing childhood cancer. For the first time in pediatric oncology history, federal funding cuts may result in 20 studies being put on hold and enrollment decreased in new clinical trials by 400 children.
Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Representatives Deborah Pryce (R-OH) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined those attending the event on Capitol Hill this week. A Senate press conference, meetings with congressional representatives and a rally were part of the day’s activities designed to attain support for a childhood cancer research funding bill pending in Congress.
Until now, advances in childhood cancer have been dramatic—40 years ago cure rates were less than 10 percent; today, 78 percent overall are cured. Yet, cancer still is the #1 cause of death by disease in children and 1 out of 5 children diagnosed with cancer dies.
“When a child is diagnosed with cancer, suddenly the whole family’s life can change overnight. Often times, a parent will have to quit their job to stay home and care for their child,” stated Senator Jack Reed. “This bill is designed to help more families find the best care possible and at the same time provide some comfort and much needed resources.”
The Childhood Cancer Act 2007 authorizes $150 million over a five-year period to expand support for biomedical research programs NCI-designated multi-center national infrastructure for pediatric cancer research, establish a population-based national childhood cancer registry, enable researchers to more accurately study the incidence of childhood cancers and long-term effects of treatments, and provide funding for informational and educational services to families coping with a diagnosis of childhood cancer.
“One in every 600 children has cancer. Each day that research goes under funded, the challenge to discovering new treatments and cures becomes more difficult and the lives of children are unfairly jeopardized,” said Gregory Reaman, M.D., Chairman of the Children’s Oncology Group.
The Senate bill (S. 911) is cosponsored by Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Jack Reed (D-RI). “Childhood cancer has tragically claimed far too many lives, but I believe there still is hope,” said Senator Coleman. “Although we’re finally making progress on increasing survivorship, we’re finding that there are unique health issues faced by survivors throughout their lifetime. This legislation helps ensure that researchers, physicians and families have the tools they need to confront this disease. By working together, we can hopefully get that much closer to finding a cure to this terrible disease.”
In the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH) sponsors the legislation (H.R.1553). “This bill targets federal resources and research against the cancers afflicting children nationwide, and elevates our nation’s prioritization of pediatric cancer through additional funding, improved treatment, and more centralized, accessible information for patients and their families. And as the family of any child with cancer knows, accessible information about the disease and treatment options is a critical ingredient in negating some of the tremendous fear and uncertainty that comes with learning that your child has cancer. Families must focus all their energies on healing – and our bill helps them do that.”
Co-sponsor of the House bill, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), said, "We can conquer childhood cancer by boosting our investment in life-saving research. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this critical legislation so we can find cures to the cancers that continue to kill more children than any other disease." Other House cosponsors include Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Joe Sestak (D-PA).
“Each child that dies from cancer is one child too many,” said Stacy Haller, Executive Director of the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. “Working with our friends in Congress, our dedicated pediatric oncologists, nurses and other caregivers, along with the relentless support of the hundreds of CureSearch families who have been touched by cancer, we will not stop until this legislation has passed. The future of our children is at stake.”
About CureSearch:
CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation supports the work of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), the world’s largest cooperative cancer research organization, that treats approximately 90% of all children with cancer, at more than 235 children’s and university hospitals and Cancer Centers in the U.S. For more information, visit the Web site.
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