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2025 is the Time to Reduce the Burden of Cancer on South Carolinians

COLUMBIA, S.C. – As the 2025 legislative session begins Tuesday, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges lawmakers to support policies that will reduce the cancer burden in the Palmetto State. ACS CAN South Carolina Government Relations ... state’s challenges when it comes to cancer care, including prevention and early detection. More than 450,000 South Carolinians , the majority of whom are working, don’t have health insurance and lack access to lifesaving care. “Too many South Carolinians are caught between paying for ... at more than double the national rate . “Around 35,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in South Carolina each year, with nearly one-third of those people dying from the disease. These numbers can go down when lawmakers take clear, proven steps to address the issue. ACS CAN looks ...

Patient Advocates Applaud NYC Program Alleviating Burden of Medical Debt for Half a Million, Look to State to Continue Progress

NEW YORK, NY—TUESDAY, JANUARY 23— The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) joins patient advocates and public health organizations across the state in applauding NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ announcement that the city will invest $18 million in an effort to erase the medical debt of as many as 500,000 New Yorkers. Medical debt impacts many people with cancer, their caregivers and their families. In a 2022 national survey of cancer patients and survivors on their experiences with and concerns around medical debt associated with the cost of cancer, 73% reported concern over their ability to pay current or future costs of their care, and 70% noted their worry about incurring ...

Congress Can Deliver Historic Victory for Children and America 's Health By Granting FDA Authority Over Tobacco Products

... to provide the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with effective authority to regulate tobacco products.  There are few steps Congress can take that will make a bigger difference for America’s health than to finally regulate tobacco products, the number one cause of preventable death and disease in the United States.  Enactment of this legislation this year would be a truly historic accomplishment that ... leadership in introducing this very strong bill. Each year in the United States, tobacco-related diseases kill more than 400,000 people and cost the nation $96 billion in health care bills.  So reducing tobacco use is critical to preventing disease, improving health and reducing health ...

Bill Introduced in US House of Representatives Extends Medicaid Coverage in US Territories

... the US territories is set to expire September 30, 2021, if action is not taken.   The following is a statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):  “For individuals facing a cancer diagnosis without access to quality, affordable health coverage, insurance coverage through Medicaid ... with cancer at a later stage when the disease is more costly to treat and survival less likely. We look forward to working with Members of Congress to extend funding for this lifesaving program. Doing so is critical to reducing health disparities, especially cancer disparities, ...

House Recognizes Importance of Colorectal Cancer Screenings, Education and Outreach

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- March 30, 2009 -- Today the U.S. House of Representatives took an important step in recognizing the importance of colorectal cancer screening with the passage of a resolution honoring the 10th anniversary of the first Congressional designation of March as ... five-year survival rate drops to only 10 percent,” said Daniel E. Smith, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).  “Since colon cancer screening could actually prevent cancer by detection and removal of premalignant polyps, the programs initiated by ...

Kudos to Gov. Wolf and lawmakers for helping thousands of Pennsylvania cancer patients

The following was originally published in Patriot-News on November 8, 2022   Every cancer diagnosis is complex. While translation of scientific discovery into clinical practice is a reality that has led to declines in cancer mortality, not all populations benefit equally, and ... known as “fail-first,” requires patients to first prove they cannot use a similar, less expensive medication before insurance will cover the cost of the drug their doctor prescribed. This is of concern as the fail-first approach can significantly undermine the oncology team’s ability to most effectively treat cancer and can also negatively impact quality of life. In ...

New Poll: Majority of Montana Voters say Health Care Access is a Problem

HELENA, Montana –– A recent poll by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) shows nearly 8 in 10 voters view a candidate’s position on access to affordable, comprehensive health coverage as a vote-determining factor. The poll findings showed 88% of Montana voters believe access to health care is a problem in the state. The number jumps to 90% among women and 91% among young voters, ages ... is a vote-determining factor when they go to the polls. These numbers largely align with national trends and are higher with women voters. Cost of care remains the largest concern for Montana voters followed by access to care for all. There will be an estimated 2,230 cancer deaths in ...

The state Legislature can help New Yorkers fight cancer. Here's how.

The following was originally published in the Albany Times Union on March 21, 2024.   Over the past 30 years, the risk of dying from cancer has steadily declined. This trend can partially be explained by declines in smoking rates, progress in early cancer detection and advances in research and treatment.  Cancer ... including intermittent leave, into the budget, as outlined in legislation (A4053A/S2821A) currently in committee. Finally, the long-term cost of fighting cancer may weigh on patients for years in the form of medical debt. A recent survey showed that roughly half of cancer survivors ...

Guest Blog - Improving Patient Education and Access: How Can We Better Leverage Advances in Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment

Investment in research has led to advances in detection and treatment of cancer that are leading to earlier and more accurate diagnoses and more targeted treatments that often carry less side effects. I’m so pleased ... therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment by providing effective drugs that often have far fewer side effects.  However, before a decision can be made on the right course of treatment, a physician must first understand the unique characteristics of the tumor and, how a patient’s own ... quality of life significantly and even extend it by identifying the appropriate treatment earlier. Targeted sequencing is able to balance the cost and utility by sequencing just the specific mutations that have targeted treatments associated with them, giving doctors the right amount of ...

Colorado Health Advocates Sound Alarm on Looming Medicaid Cuts Ahead of Critical Congressional Vote

... Colorado expressed concerns Tuesday morning during a virtual press conference hosted by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) over the impact looming Medicaid cuts and changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace will have on Coloradans, specifically cancer ... passed, including more than 8,800 children. More than 1.2 million Coloradans rely on health insurance provided by Medicaid. Thirty-five percent of enrollees are children. The U.S. Senate and House are expected to vote on proposed cuts and changes by the end of June, with a goal of getting the bill to the president by July 4th.   Rachel Sanchez, a Greeley resident and Medicaid enrollee, spoke during ...

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