Presidential Debates and Colon Cancer in PA

With healthcare being a huge issue in the next election, the power of the Lance Armstrong Foundation was able to flex it's muscle for a debate on cancer. It also goes a long way to where most candidates may stand on the issue of general healthcare in America.

The LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum was held August 27 for Democratic presidential candidates and August 28th for Republicans, at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The event was moderated by Lance Armstrong and MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews.

Democratic presidential candidates Senator Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Governor Bill Richardson and Republican candidates Senator Sam Brownback and Governor Mike Huckabee all participated.

Lance Armstrong was a guest on Meet the Press and here are some of the things he is advocated from the beginning from the transcript:

- Restore funding to the NCI to 6 billion a year
- Cancer take 1500 lives, a 9/11 every other day.
- 10 million dollars a year for colon screening will save 50,000 lives annually.
- under the current administration funding for research projects has dropped from 5 out of 10 to 1 out of 10. People are leaving research.

Edwards, Clinton and Kucinich offered up comprehensive plans, while Huckabee had some great out of the box ideas. Brownback was probably the most disappointing offering a BRAC-like commission to look into the war on cancer.

This Legislative session in Pennsylvania offers up to colon cancer screening bills with SB146 and HB972. Both bills are sitting on Senator's Don White's desk waiting for the Banking and Insurance Committee votes to move to a full Senate vote. HB 972 has already passed the PA State House.

With many of Pennsylvania's Blues sponsoring sports, building medical schools, and children's hospitals to gain more customers, screening would not break the bank. The legislation will be tough to pass. PA had two houses pass smoking bills.....neither got sent to the governor.

At the top of the blog, is Erika Kratzer cover model of the 2008 Colondar. Erika, who grew up in Snyder County (PA), has been featured on the Colondar since it's debut in 2005 and is Stage 4 colon cancer survivor. She was diagnosed at age 22 and is currently a doctoral candidate in biology. You can read her inspirational story here. Currently, the Coal Region Voice and Erika's mother, Janet Bilger, head the Central Susquehanna Colon Cancer Task Force. For more information about the Colonclub, click on my link on the left under Colon Cancer Links.

This country and state need to move forward and decide to save lives for the public good. Consider the following. It now cost 3 billion dollars a week to keep troops in Iraq. The LAF is basically asking for two weeks of this funding.