Senator highlighted steps she’s taking to prioritize comprehensive cancer research and prevention efforts for Arizona patients
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema met with two-time brain cancer survivor Danny Efron of Mesa and the leadership of the American Cancer Society to discuss the need to bolster cancer research, detection, and prevention efforts in Arizona and across the country.
“Arizona cancer survivors like Danny inspire my work to boost cancer care and prevention efforts to save lives, produce better medical outcomes, and improve quality of life for Arizona cancer patients. I’ll keep working hard to raise awareness and pass policies supporting comprehensive cancer research and prevention,” said Sinema.
Efron met with Sinema as a member of the American Cancer Society and Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) for the organization’s Leadership Summit and Lobby Day.
The Senator has led and backed multiple bipartisan initiatives that strengthen cancer research, raise awareness and support, and strengthen preventative measures to better inform, detect, and treat cancer.
Last Congress, Sinema helped lead the Childhood Cancer STAR Reauthorization Act into law – bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the Childhood Cancer STAR program for five years to advance cancer research, improve efforts to identify and track frequencies of childhood cancer, and enhance quality of life for childhood cancer survivors.
Earlier this year, Sinema cosponsored the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act – bipartisan legislation allowing Medicare beneficiaries to access multi-cancer screening tests once approved by the Federal Drug Administration instead of having to wait several years. Last Summer, a coalition of Arizona cancer advocacy groups presented Sinema with the Cancer Hero award for her leadership on the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act.
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 41,120 Arizonans will be diagnosed with new cancer cases this year, and over 13,000 Arizonans will die from a cancer diagnosis. Breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer are the most common cancers in Arizona.