Last week, I had the honor of representing Massachusetts on Capitol Hill. Along with roughly 600 of my fellow American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteers from across the country, I traveled from Newton to Washington, D.C., to urge lawmakers to make cancer a national priority.
Together, we called on Congress to support lifesaving policies that help people prevent and treat cancer. We asked legislators for their support in increasing federal funding for cancer research and prevention, and to support legislation that would waive out-of-pocket costs for individuals with the highest risk of prostate cancer and create a pathway for Medicare to cover new multi-cancer early detection tests once they are approved by the FDA and proven effective.
I had the opportunity to sit down with staff from Representative Auchincloss’s office and tell them that cancer isn’t partisan —it touches every community. I also let them know that Bay Staters and many others across the country rely on them to support legislation.
With about 1,670 people dying from cancer daily, our lawmakers must take legislative action on these crucial issues. Congress should seize the opportunity to pass critical, bipartisan legislation to help save lives and end cancer as we know it, for everyone.
I encourage you to join us and give us a stronger and louder voice in the fight against cancer. Visit fightcancer.org to be connected to people like me in our community.
Dana Bernson
Newtonville
