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Goal and Objectives
Our goal is to mobilize public support for cancer research so
that we can accelerate the nation’s progress toward the
prevention and cure of cancer. Toward that end, our objectives
are to:
- Demonstrate the benefits of cancer research;
- Illustrate the need for answers to this terrible disease;
and
- Explain the investment needed for the task ahead.
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ASCO Meeting and Award At the recent annual meeting
of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Ellen Sigal, PhD,
and retired U.S. Army General H. Norman Schwarzkopf were
presented with ASCO’s Special Recognition Awards to for their
work with the Friends of Cancer Research. In accepting the
award, Ellen Sigal said, "When Friends was started, I decided
to devote myself full time to the cancer research agenda. It
was kind of a calling. Sometimes the slow pace, the
bureaucracy, and the politics are a bit disheartening, but I
never lose sight of the goal – to really do something about
this disease." Gen. Schwarzkopf accepted the award saying,
"During my efforts to educate men about prostate cancer, I
have had the good fortune to be able to participate in many
activities involving cancer survivorship and, even more
importantly, funding for cancer research. Although we have
made progress in this latter area, I don't feel that progress
has been as great as it should be. I will continue my efforts
to obtain greater federal funding to find cures."
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| B. |
FY02 Federal
Budget The
Congress will be dealing with the FY02 supplemental as well
as the regular annual appropriations bills over the next
several weeks. The hope is that the conference committee
will be wrapped up by the 4th recess break, but that date
could slip. Also, that time spent on the supplemental is
time not spent on the annual appropriations bills. Word is
that the Congress will try to make a decision on the Defense
spending bill right out of the box with Labor-H probably
being decided late in the session.
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| C. |
Senate Cancer Hearing On June 4,
2002 the Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education, and Related
Agencies of the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing
on cancer research. The lead witness was Health and Human
Service Secretary Tommy Thompson who reviewed the progress of
cancer research, but emphasized how much work still needs to
be done. While telling the committee about the "continued
decline in the rate of new cancer cases and deaths," he also
pointed out that new cases for some cancers is still rising.
Thompson also noted the importance of making clinical trials
"broadly accessible to cancer patients, populations that are
at risk for cancer, and the physicians who care for them."
Several physicians and cancer patients also testified on their
work to expand cancer research. Steve Case, the Chairman of
AOL Time Warner, spoke about his brother, Dan, who was
diagnosed with brain cancer and the creation of ABC2, a
foundation that helps fund brain cancer research. Case noted
the need for commercial sponsorship, particularly since there
was a gap in translating "the great basic science into
practical clinical realities for patients."
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Ellen Sigal |
Marlene Malek |
Beth Mendelson |
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Chair |
President |
Executive Director |
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