The following post appeared in The Hill's "Congress Blog":

I am disturbed to see that, according to a new report by the American Cancer Society, the number of cancer deaths in the US have increased. The results of this report demonstrate the need for increased funding for cancer research, and to ensure that all citizens, whether they are insured or not, have access to preventive screening and quality cancer treatment and care.

The fight against cancer should be a collective battle, bringing together all relevant parties, including Members of Congress, federal agencies, research institutions, hospitals, health insurers, and advocacy groups to assess the needs of the cancer community. The Bush Administration has unfortunately written off such collaboration, cutting the cancer community off at its knees by decreasing federal support for research. These cuts stifle the ability of researchers to transfer the escalating pace of scientific discoveries into new treatments, therapies, and drugs that alleviate the suffering of millions of cancer patients and their families.

With nearly 50 million Americans uninsured, and with the cost of healthcare skyrocketing for citizens from all walks of life, our government is at a critical juncture when it comes to facing the war on cancer.  We must increase funding for cancer research, increase public awareness as to how cancer can be prevented, encourage citizens to get preventive screenings to stop the spread of cancer in its tracks, support the professionals who administer care, and ensure that our healthcare system works for patients who are in remission to ensure that their cancer does not come back undetected.