One Voice Against Cancer Speaks Loud and Clear

American Cancer Society
Tuesday, 20 June 2000

Representing more than 10 million Americans, 36 public health organizations and hundreds of their volunteers today joined together to deliver a unified call for increased federal funding for cancer programs. This unprecedented collaboration forming "One Voice Against Cancer" is urging Congress to do everything possible to eradicate the nation's number one health concern. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) and Congresswoman Debbie Pryce (R-OH) joined the "One Voice Against Cancer" rally on the West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol to help raise awareness regarding the issues surrounding cancer and urge prompt action by Congress.

As "One Voice Against Cancer," these organizations are asking Congress to approve significant medical investments in America's future for cancer-related research and its application. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. Each year, more than 1.2 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 500,000 will die from the disease.

"Cancer is a serious health issue and we need Congress to commit the resources necessary to fight it," said Carolyn Aldige, the moderator of the rally. "We in the cancer community have united to ask our elected policymakers to work closely together and fulfill their obligation to our nation by increasing funding for cancer research and related-programs. This must be a top priority in this congressional session and the next."

One Voice Against Cancer

The groups that comprise the "One Voice Against Cancer" have joined together in recommending that $4.1 billion be provided for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Fiscal Year 2001, as identified by the Director of NCI in the agency's bypass budget. By increasing the investment in NCI, the agency will be able to provide funding for additional approved, yet unfunded, research grants, foster the development of new drugs to treat cancer successfully, enhance and expand methods of cancer detection and prevention, improve quality of life for cancer patients, and better understand and control cancer in minority and medically underserved populations and the disparities among ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Additionally, in order to continue congressional leadership regarding overall funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and to meet Congress' established five-year goal of doubling the NIH budget by 2003, the group urges Congress to provide a fifteen percent increase to NIH in Fiscal Year 2001. Taken together, these two steps are essential to ensuring that those living with cancer can look forward to reduced suffering and prolonged lives.

Moreover, we must apply what we learn from this vital research to benefit more Americans. That is why investments in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s cancer-related programs should be at a level commensurate with its contributions to the nation's public health goals. "One Voice Against Cancer" recommends an allocation of $622 million at a minimum, an increase of $235 million over Fiscal Year 2000, for the CDC's cancer prevention, awareness, early detection and registries efforts. This amount represents merely a starting point for CDC to build greater capacity and augment its current awareness, outreach, and screening efforts in order to more effectively reach and serve all at-risk populations.

One Voice Against Cancer

"One Voice Against Cancer" has come together in an effort to deliver a unified message to the nation's policymakers and to build continued and heightened support for the millions of individuals and families who face the specter of cancer everyday. These 36 organizations urge Congress to provide the funds necessary to speed the day when we have better ways to prevent and treat cancer and ensure that all Americans have access to state-of-art therapies and technologies.

The groups participating in the "One Voice Against Cancer" effort include the following organizations: 100 Black Men of America, Alliance for Lung Cancer Advocacy Support, and Education, American Cancer Society, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Foundation for Urologic Disease, American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, American Society of Hematology, American Urological Association, Association of American Cancer Institutes, Association of Community Cancer Centers, Cancer Research Foundation of America, Cancer Treatment Research Foundation, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups, Colon Cancer Alliance, Cure For Lymphoma Foundation, Friends of Cancer Research, Hadassah, Intercultural Cancer Council, International Foundation for Anticancer Drug Discovery, International Myeloma Foundation, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Kidney Cancer Association, Men's Health Network, National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations, National Childhood Cancer Foundation, National Coalition for Cancer Research, National Medical Association, Oncology Nursing Society, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Radiation Research Society, Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, V Foundation for Cancer Research, Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, YWCA of the USA.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org