DoD Breast Cancer Research Program - Call Congress Today

It's that time of year again!

It's time to contact your northern Ohio members of the House of Representatives to ask for their signature on the "Dear Colleague" letter supporting renewed funding of $150 million for fiscal year 2011 the DoD Breast Cancer Research Program.

Since 2001, NOBCCF members have successfully advocated for annual funding for this important research program.  Let's make sure it's funded again in 2011.

We're in the final days of getting this letter signed! Call your representative today and ask them to sign the "Dear Colleague" letter in support of renewed funding for 2011!.

Health Care Reform Bill - Ohio Whip Count - Update #3

Northern Ohio breast cancer activists are celebrating the latest news that northern Ohio representatives Dennis Kucinich, John Boccieri, Charlie Wilson and Betty Sutton are all planning to vote for the health care reform bill in the House.

Thanks to all of them for stepping up and making the decision to help over 31 million uninsured Americans get affordable health care.  Make sure to call their offices and give them your thanks!

Updated to add 2 new members to the "yes" column - Reps. Marcia Fudge & Mary Jo Kilroy.  Thanks, Ladies!

Update #2 -  Rep. Marcy Kaptur is leaning "yes" on the vote, per the Toledo Blade.

Update #3 - Rep. Marcy Kaptur confirms she will vote "yes" link

Below is the latest "whip" count for all northern Ohio representatives on the critical HCR vote:

Voting "Yes"

Rep. John Boccieri (OH-16)
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH-10)
Rep. Timothy Ryan (OH-17)
Rep. Betty Sutton (OH-13)
Rep. Charlie Wilson (OH-6)
Rep. Marcia Fudge (OH-11)
Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15)
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH-9)

Undecided

Rep. Marcia Fudge (OH-11)
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH-9)
Rep. Zach Space (OH-18)
Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15)

Voting "No"

Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-4)
Rep. Steve LaTourette (OH-14)
Rep. Robert Latta (OH-5)
Rep. Patrick Tiberi (OH-12)

Please call the House members who have pledged to vote "yes" and thank them! And call the members who are undecided and ask them to vote "yes"!   It appears the vote will take place this Sunday, so call today!


Link to National Breast Cancer Coalition's Action Center

Let's make this happen!

National Breast Cancer Coalition 2010 Legislative Priorities

NBCC has released its 2010 Legislative Priorities


LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY #1

Guaranteed Access to Quality Health Care for All: We will not achieve our mission of eradicating breast cancer until everyone has guaranteed access to quality health care. NBCC developed a set of principles and a Framework to guide our work in achieving this goal.


LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY #2

$150 million dollars for FY11 for the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program: The inclusion of consumers in every aspect of decision-making and the Program’s unique grant opportunities have led to groundbreaking scientific advances.


Public Policy Priorities:

Breast Cancer Prevention Initiative: Despite years of effort by scientists, we still don’t know what causes much of this disease or how to prevent it, and we need a plan of action. NBCC will develop an overall breast cancer initiative that will make certain this happens.


Preservation of the Medicaid Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program: While NBCC pursues its work on guaranteeing access to quality health care for all, we are committed to making sure women screened and diagnosed with breast cancer through federal screening programs have access to the care they need. Congress enacted the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act (P.L. 106-354) in 2000 after years of NBCC grassroots lobbying and influence.

Consumer Involvement in all appropriate venues where decisions about healthcare and research are made: NBCC will pursue federal and state legislation and regulation to ensure meaningful consumer involvement in research and our healthcare system.


Follow this link to learn more details

Aspirin May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence

JNCO has published the results of a large scale observational study indicating regular use of aspirin by breast cancer survivors reduces risk of recurrence by 50%.

“This is the first study to find that aspirin can significantly reduce the risk of cancer spread and death for women who have been treated for early-stage breast cancer, " said Michelle Holmes, MD, DrPH, associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Harvard Medical School & Harvard School of Public Health and the study's lead author. “If these findings are confirmed in other clinical trials, taking aspirin may become another simple, low-cost and relatively safe tool to help women with breast cancer live longer, healthier lives."



Investigators report it is not yet clear how aspirin affects cancer cells, but they speculate it decreases the risk of cancer metastasis by reducing inflammation, which is closely associated with cancer development. Prior studies have also suggested that aspirin inhibits cancer spread: one study found that people with colon cancer who took aspirin lived longer than those who did not, and laboratory studies have also shown that aspirin inhibited the growth and invasiveness of breast cancer cells.

In the study, 4,164 women nurses who had been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer were followed for 4 years.  Women who took aspirin 2-5 days per week experienced a 60% reduced risk of metastasis and 71% lower risk of death. Women who took aspirin more frequently experienced a 43% lower risk of metastasis and 64% lower risk of death.   Similar benefit was seen for women who took NSAIDs 6 or 7 days a week, but there was no benefit for women who took acetaminophen.

More research needs to be conducted to establish a direct link, but the results are encouraging.  Past research has indicated a possible link between breast cancer and inflammation and is certainly worth pursuing.  Talk to your doctor if you are interested in knowing more.

Link

NBCC LEADCast on Comparative Effectiveness Feb. 11

Reminder to ProjectLEAD grads, don't forget to sign up for NBCC's upcoming LEADcast on Comparative Effectiveness research.

National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund:

Breast cancer multigene test helping patients avoid chemotherapy

Research continues to show the benefits of Genomic Health's Oncotype DX test for newly diagnosed breast cancer. The test, used for estrogen receptor positive cancers, examines a sample from the breast cancer tumor, anlyzing 21 genes to develop a score calculating the patient's individual risk of recurrence. Low scores indicate breast cancer isn't likely to recur while higher scores indicate greater likelihood. The score allows oncologists and patients to personalize a treatment plan, forgoing chemotherapy if risk is low and vice versa.

The latest study showed the test allowed a significant number of patients to choose hormone therapy alone instead of chemotherapy combined with hormone therapy.

Breast cancer multigene test helping patients avoid chemotherapy

Differences in Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: Experiences of Insured and Uninsured Women in a Safety-Net Setting - The Commonwealth Fund

As we get down to the wire on passing historic legislation to reform our health care and insurance system in the US, its worth taking a look at the negative impact lack of health insurance has on women diagnosed with breast cancer.

This recent study from the Commonwealth Fund highlights the differences between insured and uninsured women in accessing breast cancer diagnosis and completing treatment.

"Even after controlling for socioeconomic characteristics, uninsured women
with breast cancer are more likely than their insured counterparts to require
more costly treatment and are more likely to have worse outcomes. The
current health care safety net is not a substitute for universal health
insurance coverage."

Differences in Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: Experiences of Insured and Uninsured Women in a Safety-Net Setting - The Commonwealth Fund