Many of the most important decisions about cancer are made outside of your doctor’s office. Instead, they are made by your state legislature, in Congress and in the White House. ACS CAN empowers regular people to be part of the growing national movement that is fighting back against cancer. ~American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Politics has never been my thing. The sight of angry men debating over the issues plaguing our country makes me cringe instantly. Not to mention when someone instigates a raging conversation with my blatantly conservative father. That being said, I was surprised to find out that cancer was one of the topics addressed in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address—maybe I should start paying more attention to politics.
Everyone knows that cancer is a medical issue; that it takes doctors, scientists, researchers, and hospitals to fight back against the disease. I think it’s also safe to say that cancer is very much a social issue. Whether we are family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, or even acquaintances with someone, when cancer comes into the picture it affects an entire community. A community that organizes events to promote awareness, raise money, and increase support. But, is cancer really a political issue that should be addressed by our president? The American Cancer Society answers, “Yes.”
After all, politics are what organize and govern the country that we live in. They decide what rules citizens and organizations must follow and how much money they get to spend. Yes, cancer is very much a political issue and no matter what party you choose to associate with, funding for biomedical research is important.
Funding, however, is not the only issue politics addresses on the topic of cancer. It plays a much larger role. Politics decides the age that someone can purchase cigarettes and also who can use a tanning bed in the United States. It also decides what the tax will be on each of these activities which have been proven to cause cancer. By increasing the tax more Americans will stop participating in habits harmful to their bodies (let’s face it, Americans are cheap). By setting these rules the government helps save lives.
Currently, the main driving force behind the political side of cancer is ACS CAN (American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network). LVC joins this force by having an Advocacy Committee as part of CAC. The Advocacy Committee writes letters to local legislators and attends lobbying events to make it known to our politicians that cancer is a priority and needs attention. This year LVC sent letters to every member of the House and Senate during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to ask for increased funding for cancer research.
Volunteers of ACS CAN have:
Politicians are our voice. If we say we want more funding for cancer research—that's what we'll get. But we have to speak up, because together we CAN find a cure for cancer.
Everyone knows that cancer is a medical issue; that it takes doctors, scientists, researchers, and hospitals to fight back against the disease. I think it’s also safe to say that cancer is very much a social issue. Whether we are family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, or even acquaintances with someone, when cancer comes into the picture it affects an entire community. A community that organizes events to promote awareness, raise money, and increase support. But, is cancer really a political issue that should be addressed by our president? The American Cancer Society answers, “Yes.”
After all, politics are what organize and govern the country that we live in. They decide what rules citizens and organizations must follow and how much money they get to spend. Yes, cancer is very much a political issue and no matter what party you choose to associate with, funding for biomedical research is important.
Funding, however, is not the only issue politics addresses on the topic of cancer. It plays a much larger role. Politics decides the age that someone can purchase cigarettes and also who can use a tanning bed in the United States. It also decides what the tax will be on each of these activities which have been proven to cause cancer. By increasing the tax more Americans will stop participating in habits harmful to their bodies (let’s face it, Americans are cheap). By setting these rules the government helps save lives.
Currently, the main driving force behind the political side of cancer is ACS CAN (American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network). LVC joins this force by having an Advocacy Committee as part of CAC. The Advocacy Committee writes letters to local legislators and attends lobbying events to make it known to our politicians that cancer is a priority and needs attention. This year LVC sent letters to every member of the House and Senate during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to ask for increased funding for cancer research.
Volunteers of ACS CAN have:
- Led to 35 states as well as Washington, DC and Puerto Rico to go smoke-free
- Supported a 62-cent increase in the federal cigarette tax, preventing 1.9 million children from becoming lifelong tobacco users
- Helped secure U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation of tobacco products
- Increased federal cancer research funding for the National Institutes of Health
Politicians are our voice. If we say we want more funding for cancer research—that's what we'll get. But we have to speak up, because together we CAN find a cure for cancer.
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