Be heard this November: The Cancer Promise

The effort against cancer is not only waged in America’s research labs and clinics but also through public policy decisions made by elected officials. This is why the Colorectal Cancer Alliance includes advocacy as a key part of its mission.

The upcoming November election will likely have a major impact on cancer research, screening, and clinical care. While the Alliance does not endorse any political candidate, we encourage all candidates to support policies that align with our mission to end colorectal cancer in our lifetime.

As part of our advocacy efforts, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance is promoting The Cancer Promise, an initiative created by the American Cancer Society. Political candidates are asked to take a pledge to advance important cancer-related policies. Specifically, the pledge includes the following commitments:

• Support sustainable annual increases in cancer research funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.
• Protect existing laws and support legislation to expand health care options, helping patients access quality, affordable care.
• Support legislation ensuring access to cancer prevention services, including tobacco control and lifesaving cancer screenings.

This initiative helps raise awareness about cancer and health care, both of which often receive too little attention in today’s contentious election cycle. Additionally, it informs voters that a candidate is committed to advancing cancer research, screening, and quality care.

Here is a list of presidential, Senate, and House candidates, along with those who have signed the promise to date. We encourage you to review the status and email candidates in your state or district, urging them to sign. This request should be sent to Republicans and Democrats alike. Ending cancer is not a partisan issue—cancer research and care are critical to all Americans.