U.S. President Barack Obama Proclaims September 2010 As National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

Yesterday, U.S. President Barack Obama designated September 2010 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.  During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we honor all those lost to and living with ovarian cancer, and we renew our commitment to developing effective screening methods, improving treatments, and ultimately defeating this disease.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release August 31, 2010

Presidential Proclamation–National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

While we have made great strides in the battle against ovarian cancer, this disease continues to claim more lives than any other gynecologic cancer. During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we honor all those lost to and living with ovarian cancer, and we renew our commitment to developing effective screening methods, improving treatments, and ultimately defeating this disease.

Each year, thousands of women are diagnosed with, and go on to battle valiantly against, this disease. Yet, ovarian cancer remains difficult to detect, and women are often not diagnosed until the disease has reached an advanced stage. I encourage all women — especially those with a family history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer, and those over age 55 — to protect their health by understanding risk factors and discussing possible symptoms, including abdominal pain, with their health care provider. Women and their loved ones may also visit Cancer.gov for more information about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of ovarian and other cancers.

Across the Federal Government, we are working to promote awareness of ovarian cancer and advance its diagnosis and treatment. The National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Defense all play vital roles in reducing the burden of this illness through critical investments in research. Earlier this year, I was proud to sign into law the landmark Affordable Care Act (ACA), which includes provisions to help women living with ovarian cancer. The ACA eliminates annual and lifetime limits on benefits, creates a program for those who have been denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition, and prohibits insurance companies from canceling coverage after individuals get sick. The ACA also requires that women enrolling in new insurance plans and those covered by Medicare or Medicaid receive free preventive care — including women’s health services and counseling related to certain genetic screenings that identify increased risks for ovarian cancer. In addition, the ACA prohibits new health plans from dropping coverage if an individual chooses to participate in a potentially life-saving clinical trial, or from denying coverage for routine care simply because an individual is enrolled in such a trial.

During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and throughout the year, I commend all the brave women fighting this disease, their families and friends, and the health care providers, researchers, and advocates working to reduce this disease’s impact on our Nation. Together, we can improve the lives of all those affected and create a healthier future for all our citizens.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2010 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. I call upon citizens, government agencies, organizations, health care providers, and research institutions to raise ovarian cancer awareness and continue helping Americans live longer, healthier lives.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

Source: NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, 2010, By the President of the United States of America, A Proclamation, Office of the Press Secretary For The President of the United States of America, The White House, August 31, 2010.

“Decisions Are Made By Those Who Show Up”*

Responding to a threat of a funding reduction to the Department of Defense’s Ovarian Cancer Research Program, during the last week of October the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance urged advocates to contact their Members of Congress to appeal to the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee to increase funding for the research program. As a result of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s advocacy efforts, 14 Senators and 77 Representatives showed their opposition to the funding cut by signing a Dear Colleague letter sent to the Subcommittee Tuesday, November 3, 2009. …

Advocates Work To Prevent Slash In Ovarian Cancer Research Funding

Responding to a threat of a funding reduction to the Department of Defense’s Ovarian Cancer Research Program, during the last week of October the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (OCNA) urged advocates to contact their Members of Congress to appeal to the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee to increase funding for the research program.

Advocates lobbying on Capitol Hill for increased funds for ovarian cancer research. (Photo: Ovarian Cancer National Alliance)

As a result of OCNA’s advocacy efforts, 14 Senators and 77 Representatives showed their opposition to the funding cut by signing a Dear Colleague letter sent to the Subcommittee Tuesday, November 3, 2009.

The Dear Colleague letter, written by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), requested that the Subcommittee allocate the $25 million set forth in the U.S. House of Representatives‘ version of the Defense bill, and not the $10 million outlined in the U.S. Senate version of the bill. The Senate funding level represented a 50 percent reduction from the $20 million appropriated in fiscal year (FY) 2009.

The date of the conference subcommittee meeting has yet to be announced.

Established in 1997, the Department of Defense’s Ovarian Cancer Research Program has received $10 million in funding annually from FY 1998 until FY 2008. However, for FY 2009, the program’s funding was doubled to $20 million. The Ovarian Cancer Research Program works to eliminate ovarian cancer by conducting innovative, multidisciplinary research on early detection, screening and treatment of ovarian cancer.

To read the full text of the letter and see if your elected officials signed, please click here.

The Ovarian Cancer Action Network periodically sends out action alerts to notify advocates of pressing issues that need constituent support. To sign up, please click here.

About the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

OCNA is the advocacy arm of the ovarian cancer movement. OCNA works with federal policy makers, including the  U.S. President, U.S. Congress, and federal agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). OCNA commits its resources to be a voice for ovarian cancer survivors and significantly reduce the number of deaths from this deadly disease by advocating at the federal level for the following:

• Adequate and sustained funding for ovarian cancer research and awareness programs, and

• Legislation that improves quality of life and access to care for ovarian cancer patients.

Since 1997, when OCNA was founded, death rates from ovarian cancer have not significantly changed. However, OCNA has worked to increase funding for ovarian cancer research, with the goal that this funding will support breakthroughs to help detect ovarian cancer early, treat it more thoroughly, and allow women with ovarian cancer to survive, and thrive.

OCNA has worked to ensure that (i) necessary treatments are covered by Medicare, (ii) drugs and tests on the market are safe and effective, and (iii) federal policy makers are aware of the importance of the ovarian cancer community.

Join OCNA to fight for women with ovarian cancer, and policies that help support them and their families.

Source: Advocates Work To Prevent Slash In Ovarian Cancer Research Funding, News Update, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, November 11, 2009.

*Title Quote:  Fictional U.S. President Josiah Edward Bartlet, What Kind of Day Has It Been Episode, The West Wing, created by Aaron Sorkin, originally aired May 17, 2000 [Sorkin attributes his teleplay quote to Woody Allen (“80% of success in life is just showing up”)].

U.S. Ovarian Cancer Research Funding Slashed In Half — Take Action & Call Your U.S. Congressman & Senators Today!

As a result of a recent U.S. Senate mark-up, the funding for the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program (DOD OCRP) has been slashed in half from $20 million to $10 million. Research conducted under the DOD OCRP program is critical because it is solely dedicated to ovarian cancer. … Please help us make sure that the Dear Colleague letter obtains enough signatures to make an impact. If we act in unison, we can speak with one voice to obtain $25 million in appropriations for the DOD OCRP.

Click the picture above & enter your zip code to obtain U.S. Congress calling instructions from the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

As a result of a recent U.S. Senate mark-up, the funding for the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program (DOD OCRP) has been slashed in half from $20 million to $10 million. Research conducted under the DOD OCRP program is critical because it is solely dedicated to ovarian cancer.

As the U.S. Congress prepares to go into conference, whereby the U.S. House of Representatives (House) and U.S. Senate (Senate) meet to finalize appropriation levels, a “Dear Colleague” letter is being circulated in both the House and the Senate urging the Congressional leadership to follow the original $25 million funding level that was adopted in the House with respect to the DOD OCRP program.

Please help us make sure that the Dear Colleague letter obtains enough signatures to make an impact. If we act in unison, we can speak with one voice to obtain $25 million in appropriations for ovarian cancer research.

The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance provides easy instructions that allow you to request your U.S. Representative and (two) U.S. Senators to sign the Dear Colleague. If you are serious about the fight against ovarian cancer, PLEASE CALL TODAY.

CLICK HERE to be taken to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance website where you can input your zip code to obtain specific U.S. Congress calling instructions. Your efforts will make a difference.

Source:  Ovarian Cancer Research Funding slashed in half — call your Congressman and Senators today! Action Alert, Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.