News Details
Nearly 100 Cancer Organizations Urge Congress to Fund Cancer Moonshot Initiatives
Groups sign letter detailing urgent need to regain lost ground on prevention and early detection and to accelerate cancer research
WASHINGTON, D.C. and PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA —February 28,2022—Nearly 100 cancer organizations representing patients, providers and researchers sent a letter to the president and congressional leadership today in support of funding the Cancer Moonshot initiative. The letter details the urgent need for funding especially in light of delayed screenings, treatments and research caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also makes clear the unique opportunity to accelerate the pace of discovery with additional resources.
“The Moonshot initiative’s goals of cutting the cancer death rate in half through prevention, early detection, innovation, and addressing inequities is laudable, timely, and achievable, but only with the allocation of adequate funding to support these initiatives,” the letter states.
It notes that more than 9.5 million people have missed cancer screenings because of the pandemic, including dramatic drops in the number of cervical, colorectal, breast, prostate, and lung cancer screenings and that, “a reignited Cancer Moonshot is timely to encourage and support the significant effort required to address those who have missed these important screenings.”
It also highlights the importance of creating the Advanced Research Project Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to accelerate cancer research and innovations in treatment, along with measures to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and improve the nation’s nutrition and increase physical activity.
“We enthusiastically support this commitment to ‘end cancer as we know it’ and are prepared to work with bipartisan lawmakers to enact public policies that will achieve this goal,” said Robert W. Carlson, MD, Chief Executive Officer, National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), one of the organizations coordinating this outreach. “Improving equitable prevention, early detection, and treatment, will help us continue to make progress against one of the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide.”
“A bold goal requires bold action, and we are eager to help achieve the Cancer Moonshot’s full potential,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “Cancer affects everyone, but it doesn’t affect everyone equally and there is significant progress to be made to ensure everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer. We look forward to working with the administration and Congress to pass proven public health policies that bring us all closer to a healthier future with less death and suffering from this disease.”
Read the letter at NCCN.org/moonshot.
NCCN and ACS CAN previously teamed up to share the message that “Cancer Won’t Wait and Neither Should You” to encourage recommended cancer screenings that dropped dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. President Biden echoed this concern while announcing the reignited Cancer Moonshot initiative, noting that more than 9.5 million people have missed cancer screenings because of the pandemic and recent studies have found a dramatic decrease in the number of cervical, colorectal, breast, prostate, and lung cancer screenings. Learn more about the urgent need to resume routine cancer screening, and the latest expert guidance on when to do so, at NCCN.org/resume-screening.
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About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) is a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. NCCN is dedicated to improving and facilitating quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care so all patients can live better lives. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) provide transparent, evidence-based, expert consensus recommendations for cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive services; they are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer management and the most thorough and frequently-updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients® provide expert cancer treatment information to inform and empower patients and caregivers, through support from the NCCN Foundation®. NCCN also advances continuing education, global initiatives, policy, and research collaboration and publication in oncology. Visit NCCN.org for more information and follow NCCN on Facebook @NCCNorg, Instagram @NCCNorg, and Twitter @NCCN.
About ACS CAN at 20
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) makes cancer a top priority for policymakers at every level of government. ACS CAN empowers volunteers across the country to make their voices heard to influence evidence-based public policy change that saves lives. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and made workplaces, including restaurants and bars, smoke-free. As we mark our 20th anniversary, we’re more determined than ever to stand together with our volunteers and save more lives from cancer. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.
ACS CAN Media Contact:
Allison Miller
202-899-6373
Allison.Miller@cancer.org