Patients And Physicians Rally On Capitol Hill To Tell Congress YES! We Can Beat Liver Tumors
YES! Beat Liver Tumors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of patients diagnosed with primary or metastatic liver tumors, announced it will host its first advocacy day on Capitol Hill on Monday, Feb. 7, 2011. In the last two years, Americans have lost political and cultural icons such as Elizabeth Edwards, Randy Pausch, Patrick Swayze and Farrah Fawcett because their primary cancer spread to the liver. Along with more than 40 cancer survivors, physicians and caregivers, YES is working to make sure patients know their treatment options when faced with the same diagnosis. These advocates plan to educate lawmakers on the latest surveillance methods and treatment options for liver tumors and the need to raise awareness that there is hope for patients.
“Often patients succumb not to the primary cancer, but failure of the liver because of tumors. We’re taking this opportunity to educate our policymakers about treatment options and advancements that are now available to help increase survival rates”
“Every year more than 200,000 Americans will be diagnosed with liver tumors, and like myself, many are told to get their affairs in order,” said Suzanne Lindley, co-founder and executive director of YES and 10-year colon cancer survivor. “We want to share with our members of Congress and their staff that there are treatment options available – it no longer has to be a death sentence.”
In addition to one-on-one sessions with lawmakers, distinguished medical professionals will join cancer survivors and a caregiver during a congressional briefing from noon – 1:30 p.m. in the U.S. Capitol Visitor’s Center, SVC rooms 200-201.
“Often patients succumb not to the primary cancer, but failure of the liver because of tumors. We’re taking this opportunity to educate our policymakers about treatment options and advancements that are now available to help increase survival rates,” said Dr. Andrew Kennedy, co-director of Wake Radiology Oncology in Cary, N.C., and YES advocate. “There are now novel treatments and approaches for treating liver tumors, such as radioembolization, that are saving lives. The treatments are there. We just need to make sure that physicians are talking to their patients about all of the latest innovations that are available.”
Dr. Kennedy, a radiation oncologist and leader in the science, will discuss treatments including Ytrrium-90 microspheres radioembolization for patients diagnosed with liver tumors. He will be joined by Dr. Steven Cohen, medical oncologist and acting chief for Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pa.; Bonita Jones, registered nurse at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz.; Dr. Dave Li, physician and scientist who specializes in early cancer diagnosis at Wako Diagnostics in Richmond, Va.; and Dr. Constantinos Sofocleous, interventional radiologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, N.Y.
Lindley concluded, “At the end of our time in Washington we want people to know there is hope – that there are options. It is important for information, resources and support to be readily available and accessible to all who are living with cancers of the liver.”
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YES