Shipshewana Resident Traveled to Nation’s Capital

Shipshewana, IN – As part of the annual American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Leadership Summit and Lobby Day, more than 600 advocates from every state traveled to Washington D.C., to ask Congress to support critical policies proven to reduce suffering and death from cancer. ACS CAN volunteers were some of the first people back in the Capitol to meet with lawmakers since the start of the pandemic.

Among the ACS CAN volunteers was Christine Yoder, of Shipshewana, who urged

her Members of Congress to support legislation that would increase research funding at the

National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $4.1 billion, including an additional $853 million for cancer research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Christine also requested support for

legislation to increase the diversity of clinical trial participants by ensuring trial sponsors can cover trial-associated costs, like lodging and transportation, or can provide patients with technology for remote trial participation. They also asked Members to support legislation to create a pathway for Medicare to cover new multi-cancer early detection tests once they are approved by the FDA. Congressional support for these policies would help make cancer a national priority and help reduce the nation’s cancer burden.

“As a survivor I know just how important the legislation we’re asking our Members of Congress to support is—not only to cancer patients, survivors, and their families but to those who may be diagnosed in the future,” said Christine “I explained to our congressional leaders and staff that they have an opportunity to improve the health of our entire nation and save thousands of lives.” According to the American Cancer Society, more than 600,000 people in America are likely to die from cancer this year. Funding cancer research can help reduce these numbers and improve the lives of Americans. Advocates are urging federal lawmakers to support a funding level of at least $49 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and $7.7 billion for NCI to build on recent progress that has led to medical breakthroughs for treatments and therapies for millions and help reduce suffering and death from this terrible disease.

“Past investments in cancer research are already saving lives,” said Christine, ACS

CAN volunteer. “But if Congress doesn’t keep the momentum going by increasing funding for NIH, future breakthroughs will be left to languish in labs, leaving future cancer patients’ lives on the line. We need Congress to prioritize funding for this research if we’re going to end cancer as we know it.”

In addition, increasing the diversity of participants in clinical trials would make cancer care more equitable and help address socioeconomic, geographic, and racial disparities in cancer incidence and survival. Similarly, ensuring Medicare coverage of future multi-cancer early detection tests will make early detection more accessible to people in all communities.

“Cancer patients know all too well the devastating impact of cancer,” said Yoder. “When I

visited Washington, D.C., I asked Senator Braun to put aside partisan politics and fight to bring an end to cancer. We can’t afford to let promising research go to waste; we must act.”

The ACS CAN Lobby Day culminated with an evening Lights of Hope ceremony at the Constitution Gardens, where decorated illuminated bags were displayed in honor of cancer survivors or memorializing loved ones who lost their lives to the disease.