Professional Documents
Culture Documents
LEGISLATIVE BEAT
2 www.FightColorectalCancer.org
ON THE HILL BEAT
LEGISLATIVE
Ryan McKee, Legislative Director for Rep. C3 thanks our Grassroots Steering Committee for helping us make Call-on Congress a
Vito Fossella (R-NY-13), prepares advocates success. From left: Marilia Sardinha, Erika Hanson Brown, Suzanne Lindley, Dusty Weaver.
for their meetings.
C3 and its advocates were all over survivors, families of patients, and
Capitol Hill during Colorectal those who lost loved ones to the
Cancer Awareness Month (or, as disease. Many had never been to
it is also known: March). The 2nd Washington, DC before. They were
Annual C3 Call-on Congress took driven to action by their need to
place from March 9–12. make the world better for people
fighting colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer advocates from
the four corners of the country “Call-on Congress was really
came together in Washington, DC special for me; it was a labor of
to take their message to Capitol love,” said Patti Hollenback, a C3
Hill. Many came in as public policy advocate from Pennsylvania. “My
novices but left as experts. They connection to colorectal cancer
Pennsylvania advocates Verna Cox (left)
were professionally trained in is my late husband, Harry. I went and Patti Hollenback pose on Capitol Hill
the legislative process, and were to Washington for him and all our with Joe Arite.
briefed on specific colorectal angels and friends we have met
cancer legislation in Congress. along the way.” Over 325 Congressional offices
were contacted by C3 advocates
The next day, they were off to making one simple request: support
Capitol Hill to sit down face to face colorectal cancer screening
with their Members of Congress. legislation and cover our butts!
The advocates educated their
Members on legislation that would Want to join us at our 2009 Call-
increase access to screenings and on Congress? Log onto www.
the critical need for higher funding FightColorectalCancer.org/
levels at the National Cancer But the advocates didn’t stop there. ConC2009.
Institute (NCI). One week later on, March 19th,
nearly 2000 people participated C3 would like to thank Genentech
Call-on Congress participants in C3’s Congressional Butt-In, a BioOncology for supporting the
included colorectal cancer one-day phone blitz to Capitol Hill. Congressional Butt-In.
Dr. Yaguang Xi has been awarded In the second part, Dr. Xi will look
C3’s first Lisa Fund Research for micro-RNAs in the tumors of
Fellows Grant for his project, hundreds of people with stage
“MicroRNAs, novel prognostic II or III colorectal cancer who
biomarkers in colorectal cancer.” had a recurrence, and attempt
Dr. Xi received his medical and to determine if the presence of
PhD degrees in Beijing, China. specific micro-RNAs correlate with
After working as a surgeon for a favorable or unfavorable patient
several years, he decided to focus outcome. This study might provide
on research and began work on markers to identify patients who
his postdoctoral research with Dr. need aggressive adjuvant treatment
Lisa Dubow after surgery to prevent recurrence.
Jingfang Ju at the University of
South Alabama – Mitchell Cancer C3 is committed to efforts to
Institute. “I wanted to improve the
outcomes for my patients,” said both increase our national
Dr. Xi. spending on colorectal cancer
The grant came through the Lisa research, and to provide direct
Fund, spearheaded by Lisa Dubow support for research through the
who passed away in 2007 after Lisa Fund.
living with metastatic colorectal
cancer for a decade. “Lisa knew Although the idea of the Lisa
that supporting young investigators From left: AACR Past President Dr. William Fund came from Lisa herself,
Hait, Nancy Roach, Dr. Yaguang Xi, Sean hundreds of donors made the grant
with their cutting edge ideas was
Twersky (Lisa’s son) a possibility. “Lisa was with us
how we would find a cure for © 2008 AACR/Todd Buchanan
colorectal cancer,” said Nancy in spirit when the first grant was
Roach, C3 Board Chair. “Lisa not of micro-RNA which had higher awarded, and her efforts continue
only talked about the need for levels in colorectal cancer cells to make a difference for patients,”
research, she went out and raised than in normal cells. said Roach.
the money needed to make it As cancer research funds are cut,
During the first part of his grant-
happen.” direct funding of peer-reviewed
sponsored research, Dr. Xi will
L isa knew that supporting young examine the impact high levels of research by groups such as C3
these specific micro-RNAs have is critical to future progress. C3
investigators with their cutting
on how sensitive cancer cells is committed to efforts to both
edge ideas was how we would increase our national spending on
are to chemotherapy with 5-FU,
find a cure for colorectal cancer. Eloxatin, and Camptosar. If cells colorectal cancer research, and to
from tumors with high levels of provide direct support for research
Dr. Xi’s grant, which was micro-RNAs don’t respond well through the Lisa Fund.
competitively awarded through the to these drugs, it could indicate C3’s vision is that someday
American Association for Cancer that reducing the amount of these colorectal cancer will be no more
Research (AACR) peer review micro-RNAs in cancer cells may deadly than the common cold.
process, has two parts. In his prior increase the effectiveness of Invest in our goal by supporting
research, Dr. Xi looked for micro- chemotherapy, thereby identifying the Lisa Fund. Contact Carlea
RNA, tiny bits of genetic material a promising new method to Bauman, C3 President, at
which help regulate cellular improve treatment for colorectal 703-548-1225 ext. 11 for more in-
functions. He identified a number cancer. formation on how you can help.
4 www.FightColorectalCancer.org
LEGISLATIVE BEAT
Over the past five years, funding to attract the best young minds
to the National Cancer Institute into cancer research. If you were
(NCI) has been cut by 15.6%, when graduating with a doctorate degree,
adjusted for inflation. These cuts bringing with you the large sums
are having real consequences on of debt that comes from years
cancer research, both in the short of schooling, would you want to
and, more importantly, the long embark on a career where funding
term. As a researcher studying is scarce and getting worse? I
cures and treatments for colorectal work with many very smart, young
cancer, I know this firsthand. In faculty members who cannot get
addition to my work as a physician research grant funding because
at the Lineberger Cancer Center the money simply is not there.
at UNC-Chapel Hill, I also oversee Many of the brightest minds who
gastrointestinal cancer research could choose to spend a lifetime in
for the clinical trials group “Cancer cancer research are being forced to
and Leukemia Group B” (CALGB). make other choices.
HR 1738 would create a program at the Centers • Write letters to the editor of your local paper
for Disease Control and Prevention that would talking about HR 1738 and urging your
provide colorectal cancer screening for the poor, Representative to support the bill.
uninsured and underinsured. A similar program
was developed for breast and cervical cancer in the • Post articles on personal blogs or comments
1990s, and has helped over 3 million women. Since on the blogs of others. Link them to www.
colorectal cancer can be prevented and/or stopped CoverYourButt.org.
in its tracks simply by removing polyps or by the
detection of cancer at an early stage, making access
• Talk about the bill on social networking sites
to screening for it is one of the most important
such as MySpace or Facebook (there is even a
things we can do as advocates.
Cover Your Butt cause on Facebook that you can
C3 advocates pressed for the passage of HR 1738 in join).
meetings with our Members of Congress during C3’s
Call-on Congress and the Congressional Butt-In this Let Joe Arite, C3’s Policy and Grassroots
past March. And we know we made an impact. So Manager, know about your activities and ask
far, the bill has over 120 co-sponsors (an important him for help. You can reach him at Joe.Arite@
factor when determining a bill’s chances of passage) FightColorectalCancer.org or at 703-548-1225 ext.
and it enjoys bipartisan support. It’s great to see 12.
that saving lives and saving money ISN’T a political
issue.
Advocacy is a process. All the hard work we put
There is still much work that we as advocates can into passage of HR 1738 will just make the victory
do to support HR 1738. sweeter when it finally happens!
VISIT US ONLINE
www.FightColorectalCancer.org
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8 www.FightColorectalCancer.org