Cutting cancer funds could be deadly
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Fighting cancer costs money. But in an economy where cutting spending is a top priority, the American Cancer Society wants to make sure its federal funding doesn't go under the knife.
Tuesday in Indianapolis, and in cities across the nation, the American Cancer Society held rallies marking 10-years of lobbying for cancer research. But this was a different kind of rally. What happened in Indianapolis will end up in congress.
American Cancer Society volunteers spread across downtown Indianapolis asking people to sign petitions.
"Hopefully, you know the more signatures we get today, the more people would be able to stop and listen to us in the future. So we just have to keep working, one signature at a time," Katie Crawford explained.
We met Betty Shaw as she stood in front of the statehouse. She has already filled a petition book with signatures.
"After 52 years of smoking, I developed a little light hacking cough," she says. Eventually she was diagnosed with lung cancer. "It's been eight years in August. And I'm just grateful," she says. Grateful that chemotherapy and radiation saved her life. She is hopeful that more money for research would mean more medical breakthroughs. "I think they're going in the right direction, but they need to hurry up," she says laughing.
Instead of a big rally in one spot, volunteers were asked to spread out. Petition signatures from Indianapolis, will join those from cities across the country. They'll be presented on Capitol Hill next week.
Right now, congress spends about $5 billion a year for cancer research. $30 million of those funds pay for research in Indiana. The American Cancer Society hopes your signatures will convince congress to up the ante.
According to the latest numbers from the National Cancer Institute nearly 13,000 people in Indiana die of cancer every year. Cancer kills more than 550,000 a year, nationwide.
Finding a cure takes time, but those involved in the fight also say it takes money. More money than is being spent right now.
Source: http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/marion_county/cutting-cancer-funds-could-be-deadly
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