American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to Host Third Annual Colorado Research Breakfast

Researchers, Public Officials and Business Leaders Discuss Next Steps

DENVER, CO – July 20, 2011– Leaders in government, medical research, cancer care, business, health policy – and even Miss Colorado 2011, are meeting with lawmakers over breakfast to have a frank discussion about the next steps in the fight against cancer.  The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) Colorado Research Breakfast is quickly becoming known as one of the region’s premier events in the cancer research and advocacy community, focusing on current policies, emerging trends, and advances in cancer research.

The ACS CAN research breakfast brings together those in Colorado who are committed to elevating the fight against cancer and ensuring elected officials make cancer a top legislative priority.  ACS CAN volunteer advocates fight hard to preserve federal funding for cancer research, as well as for insurance coverage of lifesaving cancer screenings and treatments, and to stave off attempts to cut state funds that support programs such as the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

The treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the major success stories of modern medicine, according to Steven Hunger, M.D., director, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital Colorado, professor and Ergen Family Chair in pediatric cancer, and section chief of pediatric hematology/oncology/bone marrow transplantation at University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.

“Through clinical trial and linked laboratory research studies, childhood acute lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) has gone from an incurable disease in 1960, to one for which at least 85% of children will be cured in 2011,” said Dr. Hunger, “However, that is not good enough.  Too many children and teenagers still die from ALL, and too many survivors are left with significant long term side effects from their treatment.  Our goal must be to cure every child and teenager that develops this disease, a goal that can only be achieved with additional clinical and laboratory research.”

Recent polling commissioned by ACS CAN shows that more than three-quarters of the public opposes cutting funding for cancer research (77 percent) and prevention programs (76 percent) as part of the effort to reduce federal spending.  Public opposition is strong across party lines – more than 60 percent of Republicans, more than 75 percent of Independents and nearly 90 percent of Democrats are opposed to cuts in cancer research funding.

“I was lucky because the timing of my breast cancer in 1981came just on the cusp of the development of new drugs and procedures that long years of medical research had made possible, recalled former Colorado First Lady Dottie Lamm, “And this research, not only in breast cancer, but in all cancer, must go on, especially in the areas that will help people, not like me, but racial minorities, children, and those with rare, or potentially more fatal, diseases than mine.”

Also speaking at the ACS CAN breakfast is Colorado Speaker of the House Frank McNulty. The Speaker will be discussing the economic impact of cancer research in Colorado and the importance of ongoing support for this research.

Diana Dreman, Miss Colorado 2011, knows how close to home cancer can hit, as her own mother is currently battling stage IV melanoma.  Ms. Dreman stated today that she is committed to reducing the toll of cancer upon Colorado and will take the fight against cancer nationwide, if she can win the Miss America crown.

“This fight against cancer is near and dear to my heart.  When I received the call that my mother had cancer I couldn’t breathe.  As advocates, we have the responsibility to educate the public on the many ways to prevent and fight cancer effectively at the federal, state, and local levels, but we cannot do it unless policymakers take action to promote research, prevention, early detection, and effective treatment,” said Ms. Dreman.

According to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts and Figures, it was estimated that in 2011 in Colorado 22,390 people would be diagnosed with cancer and another 6,890 would die from the disease.  This year, it is estimated that more than 1.5 million people in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 571,000 people would die from the disease.  Cancer remains the leading cause of death for all Americans under the age of 85, claiming the lives of 1,500 people each day

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.acscan.org.