Americans Urged to Contact Congress to Forward Mesothelioma Research

• Nancy Meredith
• Featured News, For Your Family

President Obama kicked off 2013 by signing into law the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act. The legislation establishes a research framework within the National Cancer Institute to guide research efforts for recalcitrant cancers, or those with high mortality rates. Now, it is time for the NCI to develop the frameworks, and the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is asking Americans to rally around U.S. Congresswomen Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) in urging all members of Congress to push the NCI to include mesothelioma in the frameworks.

McCollum and Pingree sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to the members of the U.S. House of Representatives asking them to join them in urging Dr. Harold Varmus, Director of NCI, to guide research efforts for the rare, asbestos-caused mesothelioma.

A recalcitrant cancer is a cancer with a five-year relative survival rate below 50 percent and one that has not seen “substantial progress in the diagnosis or treatment.” Mesothelioma meets the act’s definition for both of these requirements: the cancer has just a five to ten percent five-year survival rate, and there is only one FDA-approved treatment for the cancer. There is no cure for mesothelioma.

“Congresswomen McCollum and Pingree are leading a very important effort for everyone affected by mesothelioma by encouraging the National Cancer Institute to create a scientific framework to progress mesothelioma research,” said Meso Foundation’s executive director and nurse practitioner, Mary Hesdorffer in a press release applauding the Congresswomen’s action.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a national organization dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma and the suffering it causes by funding the highest quality mesothelioma research, has long advocated the U.S. government for increased focus on mesothelioma research.

Take action by urging your Congress member to progress mesothelioma research. Visit the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s web site for more information.

Sources :

• Mary Hesdorffer
  http://blog.curemeso.org/meso-foundation-congratulates-representative-betty-mccollums-efforts-advance-mesothelioma-research
• Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act
  http://www.gop.gov/bill/h-r-733-recalcitrant-cancer-research-act-of-2012-as-amended