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RALEIGH, N.C. – More than 50 cancer advocates, patients, survivors and caregivers from around the state gathered at the General Assembly on Tuesday, May 12 to ask lawmakers to make cancer policy a priority for Cancer Action Day, hosted by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). The day included a breakfast, news conference and meetings with all 170 state lawmakers to push for passage of House Bill 567 to increase access to biomarker testing.
When someone faces a cancer diagnosis, biomarker testing may help their doctors determine the right therapy or treatment. It can save critical time in a cancer fight by helping patients avoid treatments that may not work.
Volunteers advocating for the bill at Cancer Action Day included Ethan Davis, a brain cancer patient from Winston-Salem.
“In just one year of the targeted medication, my tumor melted away. Thanks to biomarker testing and targeted therapy, the trajectory of my cancer completely changed," Davis said.
Rep. Grant Cambell, M.D., led the news conference with remarks about the importance of biomarker testing coverage. Speakers included Ashley Fannin of Clayton. Fannin’s 13-year-old son Mason joined her at Cancer Action Day. Mason was diagnosed with leukemia at age six.
“When Mason was diagnosed, his doctors recommended biomarker testing. The results found his cancer was especially aggressive and were crucial in shaping his treatment plans by increasing the frequency of his steroids and chemotherapy. Today, we are grateful Mason is cancer-free,” Ashley Fannin said.
Biomarker testing also helps in the diagnosis and management of other diseases, including Alzheimer’s, arthritis and pre-eclampsia. Elizabeth Civils of Charlotte spoke at the news conference on behalf of her daughter Katie, 4, whose biomarker testing helped with her diagnosis of LCHAD deficiency.
“Katie’s disease could be life threatening and today we have to do careful management of her diet, daily medication and constant monitoring. Biomarker testing likely saved her life by giving us this diagnosis that now allows us to access the care Katie needs,” Civils said.
Other speakers included Dr. Haley Simpson, an oncologist in Chapel Hill, and Lindsey Golden, territory government relations director for the Alzheimer’s Association.
“We are proud to fight alongside our partners to increase access to biomarker testing for all patients,” said John Broome, ACS CAN North Carolina government relations director. “At ACS CAN, we want to make sure more North Carolinians can achieve the best chance to survive cancer by opening the door to the latest advances in targeted treatments.”
ACS CAN thanks HB567 sponsor, Rep. Grant Campbell, MD, for his avid support. To date, 24 states have passed legislation to improve coverage of biomarker testing, including Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee.