Senate Bill Provides Focus on Cancer Research, Prevention and Early Detection

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) introduced the 21st Century Cancer Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment (ALERT) Act at the end of March.

The bill emphasizes the urgency and need of resources towards the prevention and early detection of cancers.

The bill has received strong support from cancer foundations, physicians, and cancer survivor and 7-time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong of the LiveStrong Foundation.

This bill is the first major cancer legislation introduced since the National Cancer Act of 1971. Senator Kennedy was also the author of that bill.

ALERT establishes a National Cancer Program that will focus on an “expanded, intensified, and coordinated cancer research program.” The bill also allows for an increased focus on the prevention of cancer caused by occupational or environmental exposure to carcinogens.

Additional sections in the bill call for development of biomarkers for early cancer detection, support from insurance companies for patients in clinical trials, and for expansion of cancer survivorship activities.

ALERT bill’s full text.

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