Monday, November 6, 2017

A Day on the Hill

Along with other gynecologic patient advocates, I had the privilege of joining gynecologic oncologists from the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists in Washington, DC on Friday for their Capital Visit Day.

Thursday evening we had a training session during dinner. This training allowed us to learn the best way to ask our Senators and Congressmen/women to support funding for gynecologic cancer research.

On Friday, I headed to Capital Hill with Dr Ginger Gardner, a gynecologic oncologist from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. We visited with the legislative assistants for Senators Menendez (NJ), Booker (NJ), Schumer (NY) and Gillibrand (NY) and Representatives Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Maloney (NY-12) and Frelinghuysen(NJ-11). 


As we introduced ourselves to each assistant I was able to share a bit about my ovarian cancer diagnosis and my participation in clinical trials. Then we moved on to our "asks".

Increased funding for gynecologic cancer clinical trials at the NCI/NIH 
In the past few years there has been a decrease in the number of NIH clinical trials available to women with gynecologic cancers.In 2012 there were 56 trials for gynecologic cancers while in 2016 there were 18 trials.
Here is the information sheet we left during our visits.


Preserve the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) at the Department of Defense
The Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2018 contains 4 sections (733, 891, 892, 893) which would basically eliminate the CDMRP. The CDMRP includes the Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP). The House version of the bill does not include those sections.

There are currently 850,000 active duty female service members, wives and adult daughters. Approximately 11,800 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in their lifetimes at a cost of $971 million. 
The OCRP also includes the Ovarian Cancer Research Academy which  helps to develop young investigators to become lifelong ovarian cancer researchers.


We left this brochure, 

 (http://cdmrp.army.mil/ocrp/pbks/ocrppbk2017.pdf ) with each assistant. I recommend you read through it to see the groundbreaking basic research being done at the the OCRP.

I urge you to reach out to your Senators and the Congressman/woman from your district and ask them to support these crucial research programs. Thank you!


Dee
Every Day is a Blessing! 








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