Advocacy >  Blood Cancer Awareness

Last update: 07/01/2010

Calling for Designation of September
as Blood Cancer Awareness Month

Contact Tool | How to Make the Call | The Resolution | Talking Points | Other Ways

Thanks is due to the Lymphoma Research Foundation
and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for their roles in this initiative.

House Resolution 143:

The resolution,  introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Walter Jones (R-NC)
and Betsy Markey (D-CO):

"(1) Supports the designation of Blood Cancer Awareness Month to enhance the understanding of blood-related cancers, increase support for funding research to find a cure for blood cancers,

(2) Encourage studies of the cause and prevention of blood cancers to reduce the number of new cases, and enhance understanding of clinical trials to boost provider and patient participation and accelerate the pace of clinical research; encourages participation in voluntary activities to support blood cancer research and education."
 

Use this tool to contact your elected representatives

Make that Phone Call! ...

This is how our government works - don't underestimate the power of your calls!

1. Call 202-224-3121

2. Ask to be transferred to your Representative’s office for your state

3. Introduce yourself as a constituent, and why you are calling

4. Ask them to become a co-sponsor of resolution 1433 - to increase awareness of blood cancers.

5. Explain what lymphoma and the blood cancers are
   (afflicts more than 900,000 people in the United States)
   
   Briefly tell your story about living with the disease.

6. Thank them for their time.

7. Ask them to notify you regarding the action they take in response to your request

8. Leave your contact information (phone number or email)

Be sure to refer to HR. 1433 - Expressing support for designation of September 2010 as Blood Cancer Awareness Month. http://bit.ly/cqAqnF

H. Res 1433:

... Whereas blood-related cancers currently afflict more than 900,000 people in the United States, with an estimated 150,000 new cases diagnosed each year;

Whereas leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative disorders will kill more than 50,000 people in the United States this year;

Whereas Congress, in the National Cancer Act, established an aggressive Federal program for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer;

Whereas Congress has maintained a steady investment in cancer research to answer basic questions about the causes of cancer and to develop new treatments for cancer;

Whereas the Federal investment in cancer research and control has contributed to important progress in understanding and treating some blood cancers and yielded significant advances in survival for some forms of blood cancer;

Whereas continued investment and innovation is critical to the early diagnosis and the more effective and safer treatment for blood cancers where research and treatment advances have to date been limited;

Whereas strategies to enhance and strengthen the cancer clinical research program and boost participation in clinical trials are necessary to achieve blood cancer treatment advances;

Whereas survivors of blood cancer may experience serious late and long-term effects of their treatment and may need life-long follow-up and survivorship care;

Whereas Congress has provided strong support to blood cancer research and has focused special attention on increasing awareness of blood cancers and intensifying the blood cancer research program;

Whereas the House of Representatives will continue to provide support for research for a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative disorders; and Whereas September 2010 would be an appropriate month to designate as Blood Cancer Awareness Month^.

Talking Points

Our just speak from your heart.

1. The incidence of blood cancers
   
   afflicts more than 900,000 people in the United States,
   
   with an estimated 150,000 new cases diagnosed each year
    

2. The impact
   
   kill more than 50,000 people in the United States this year
   
   affecting entire families
   
   not just the disease, but also serious late and long-term effects of treatment

3. Your story
   
   When you were diagnosed.  The treatments you've had.  The uncertainty.  Effects on your life and family.

4. The real promise of research
   
   That progress has been made and more is sure to come,
   
   but progress depends on awareness and research.

5. Benefits for other diseases
   
   That research in blood cancers is contributing also to understanding of other related illnesses.

6. That we have been left out for too long
   
   How it feels to see other diseases getting the lion-share of attention and focus.

See also Blood Cancer Statistics

Other Ways to Make Your Voice Heard

	From the Lymphoma Research Foundation website http://bit.ly/ceSgRd
	From the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society website capitolconnect.com