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Welcome to all of our new readers! This month we are asking for your assistance. The "Dear Colleague" letter in support of the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program is being circulated in the House.
Once again, we are asking for level funding. This exceptional program has, since it's inception, provided the transparency and fiscal responsibility that is being requested of all government programs today.
The State of Pennsylvania has received over $17 million dollars in research funding in the past 11 years. There are countless women and men in our state that are receiving treatments that have been developed by this program.
As many of you know, this program puts consumers at the table with scientists to make the difficult funding decisions. This innovative program is heralded and duplicated world wide.
Everyone involved takes great pride in ensuring that every dollar is spent in the most effective and efficient way. For this program to continue we need some assistance.
Please, contact the members of congress that have not signed the letter and urge them to do so today. Ask your friends and family to do the same. Call them in the local office, call them in Washington, email them, or fax them.
The deadline is March 27th! TODAY!!
Many voices with the same message is much easier to hear:
"Please, sign the Dear Colleague letter in support of the DoD Breast Cancer Research Program today."
And what is even more important -we need to say thank you.
Please, take the time to call and thank those members of congress that did sign this letter. |
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A Discussion on Healthcare Continues |
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"If you expect to dine - first you need to be invited to the table."
Thoughts & Developments:
The National Breast Cancer Coalition is represented at the Stakeholder hearings on Healthcare.
We are very pleased to announce that Carolina Hinestrosa, from NBCC, has been appointed to the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Comparative Effectiveness Research Priorities
It is vitally important that the consumer continues to be a clear voice in this dialogue.
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| Open letter to Congress |
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This letter was written and hand delivered to a member of Congress. Lois' words convey the value of this program so articulately, I asked her if we could reprint a portion of it this month. Her voice is just one of many, but one we all should listen to.
I am writing to you today in regards to the Department of Defense's Breast Cancer Research Program (DOD BRCRP), a research program that has meant the difference in my life. I am a breast cancer survivor of 17 years who has been dealing with metastatic disease for the last 8 years and a resident of Pennsylvania.
Several of the treatments I received were discovered because of research done in this program. One of these is a drug called Ixempra that was approved by the FDA in October of 2007. By cancer treatment standards, this is a very young drug that has just begun to open up a whole new class of drugs that are just beginning to be tested for cancer treatment. Currently, there are more cancers in clinical trials with Ixempra and its sister drugs in this classification called epothilones. Because of the DOD BCRP, the signaling pathways that this drug interferes with were discovered leading to its development.
Another treatment that I received several years ago, Abraxane, was discovered after experimentation in new drug delivery systems. This research was also partially funded in its earliest stages by the DOD BCRP. Thus, were it not for this program, I probably would not be alive today and the United States would not be the leader it is in cancer treatment.
The Dear Colleague letter in support of the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program is now being circulated among the members of the House. The letter asks for $150 million dollars as part of the bill text of the DOD's Appropriations bill in order to keep this program active for FY 2010. This is level funding from last year. I urge you to support this program and become a co-signer on this bill. It will definitely benefit many of the women in Pennsylvania, some of whom are your constituents.
Sincerely,
Lois A. Anderson, MSW
Central PA Field Coordinator for NBCC |
| ACE awards |
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We were honored to present several Linda Creed ACE awards this month.
The ACE Award is so named because it represents Actions, Commitment and Efforts toward the ongoing fight to eradicate breast cancer.
It is important to recognize individuals that move beyond professing their support and take action to enact legislative change; to recognize those individuals who demonstrate their commitment by publicly supporting programs that look for new ways to conduct research; and to recognize individuals that make an effort to convince others to add their support to these measures.
Linda Creed was proud to present these awards to these legislators that continue to make a difference: Senator Arlen Specter, Senator Robert Casey, Representative Jason Altmire and Joe Sestak.
Joe Sestak said "I am honored to receive this award. Breast cancer is a devastating disease that one in eight women will develop over their lifetime, and it is the leading cause of death among women age 45 and older. Having lived in a cancer ward with my own daughter, I understand the challenge families face when they receive a cancer diagnosis. I am very concerned about those who suffer from breast cancer both here in the 7th Congressional District and across the country.
I want to help ensure that all families have the same access to high quality care that my daughter has had, and so I am committed to working with the Linda Creed Foundation and other advocates to bring greater awareness of breast cancer and support for its research and treatment."
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| Legislative Update |
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These members have not signed the "Dear Colleague" letter
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Making Our Voices Heard
When treatment is over we need to find other
ways to fight our breast cancer
Date: April 18, 2009
Time: 8:30 am - noon
Place: Ramada Inn
20 Public Square
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
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| As always, this newsletter is a work in progress. We welcome your suggestions and comments. Easy to do that - just hit reply and tell us what you think.
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Thank you again for all that you do.
until next time....
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