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Make Sure Cancer Research Reaches Patients!
Make Sure Cancer Research Reaches Patients!
Scientists are working hard to find a cure for breast cancer - every day they bring us one step closer to our ultimate goal of eradicating breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. The National Cancer Institute has a program that helps turn these scientific discoveries into practical advancements that benefit patients. Unfortunately, this important program is in jeopardy. We must encourage Congress to request sustained funding and preservation of translational research programs!
Urge Congress to put its weight behind translational research for the benefit of all patients.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Make Sure Cancer Research Reaches Patients!
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am writing you as your constituent and someone who cares deeply about finding a cure for breast cancer. I am asking you to demonstrate your support for the potentially lifesaving translational cancer research funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) through the Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs).
Translational research is essential to ensuring that scientific discoveries made in the lab rapidly reach cancer patients. I urge you to write to Deputy Director Dr. John Niederhuber at the NCI to express your support of translational research. Please encourage NCI to maintain SPORE funding at fiscal year 2004 levels, and administer the program following the fiscal year 2004 guidelines. This will ensure continuity of the SPOREs program and the important translational research it affords.
The SPOREs program is an essential component of our nation's cancer research program. It is the primary federal mechanism through which basic research advances are translated into interventions that will directly benefit patients, as quickly as possible. Through the SPOREs program, laboratory and clinical scientists share the common goal of bringing novel ideas to clinical care settings that have the potential to reduce both cancer incidence and mortality, as well as improve survival and quality of life for cancer patients and their families.
The SPOREs model enables scientists to collaboratively plan, design and implement research programs that can have a positive impact on cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment. It is imperative that we maintain this vital cancer research as part of our continued war on this deadly disease.
Sincerely,
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This year alone, more than 217,000 American women and men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and over 40,000 will die from this devastating disease. In addition to invasive breast cancer, 59,390 new cases of in situ breast cancer are expected to occur among women during 2006. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women ages 40-50. Tell us why you care about breast cancer.
