Letter: Bill supports biomarker testing
This letter originally ran in the Lincoln Journal Star.
News
ACS CAN Victory in Quality of Life
June 29, 2009
As the leading patient voice in the health care reform debate, ACS CAN recently celebrated a quality of life victory for patients and survivors when Congressional leaders unanimously passed the National Pain Care Policy Act as an amendment to the health care reform bill pending in the Senate HELP Committee.
This legislation, which already passed the House of Representatives, would help address barriers that cancer patients and survivors often face in the treatment and management of their pain. The National Pain Care Policy Act would improve pain care research, bolster education and training programs, and increase access to proper pain care.
ACS CAN is dedicated to ensuring that patients receive access to the full continuum of care, including pain and symptom management.
Pain is one of the most feared and burdensome symptoms for cancer patients and survivors. Nearly 2 in 3 cancer patients undergoing active treatment experience pain related to their cancer. And 1 in 3 cancer survivors experiences pain. Uncontrolled pain can affect every aspect of life causing suffering, trouble sleeping, and reduced physical and social activity and appetite.
Unfortunately, cancer pain and symptom management is not openly discussed in the doctor's office. Doctors don't always ask their patients about pain, and cancer patients often are reluctant to raise pain as a problem when they see their healthcare team in clinic visits. Integrating pain and symptom management earlier and more often as part of cancer treatment will help patients feel and live better with their cancer, even if they wonÈt get better. Open communication with health care professionals about pain and the medicines and other methods available to treat it is essential to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
ACS CAN will continue to work to ensure that this amendment remains included in the final legislation to be passed by the Senate
Submitted by Rebecca K, ACS CAN.