This grassroots effort, called the Campaign Against Cancer, is being chaired by U.S. Senators Connie Mack (R-FL) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), two of the U.S. Senate's strongest leaders in fighting cancer, along with actor Elliott Gould, whose mother died of cancer. The Campaign Against Cancer is intended to ensure that the presidential candidates not only understand the issues surrounding cancer, but what American voters think about this issue. "Cancer touches nearly every American and the next president's agenda is crucial toward moving us to a cure," Gould said. "This is an extremely pervasive and devastating disease - one that needs major attention from the next president."

John R. Seffrin, Ph.D., chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society, said at the Washington, D.C., news conference, "We will eradicate cancer in the 21st Century. But how quickly in this new century depends on the courage of our political leaders - specifically our next president." ACS volunteers in Iowa and New Hampshire have spent the fall and early winter mobilizing and attending candidate events - from "eggs and politics" breakfasts and debates to town hall meetings and backyard gatherings. Their mission: to ask each candidate about his agenda in the fight against cancer. After the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary, the volunteer grassroots effort will continue in other primary states.

"Our volunteers, many of whom have faced cancer in their lives, have embraced this effort and agreed to approach the candidates with their personal stories - and ask them about their platform to combat this disease," Seffrin said.

Senators Mack and Feinstein, who lead the Senate Cancer Coalition, agreed to chair this volunteer effort because they too believe the next president will play such a crucial role in beating this disease not only through research but also through education and prevention.

"Health care will likely be one of the key issues on the minds of voters when they elect our next president in November," Mack said. "We need a president who will take a commanding lead in the war on cancer, someone who will fight for increased medical research funding and promote the message of early detection. Research and education are the keys to winning the war on cancer, and I am pleased to join the American Cancer Society to highlight cancer issues and their impact on American families."

"Discovering a cure for cancer requires leadership at the highest level," Feinstein said. "Our next president must put reaching this goal at the top of his agenda because with the rapid aging of our people, the incidence of cancer will explode by 2010 bringing a 25 percent increase in deaths at a cost of over $200 billion per year. I am pleased to join the American Cancer Society and Senator Connie Mack in this important endeavor to urge all of the candidates to commit themselves to finding a cure."

To enhance the volunteer effort, the American Cancer Society is placing a series of newspaper and radio advertisements in Iowa and New Hampshire intended to specifically ask the presidential candidates for the record what they plan to do to fight this disease. The ads will appear across both states tomorrow and run throughout both the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.

The radio spots feature a New Hampshire breast cancer survivor, Betsy Ross Duany of Plainfield, NH, and an Iowa breast cancer survivor, Margaret Slyby of West Des Moines, IA.

"Fighting cancer is something nearly every family faces," Seffrin said. "We want the candidates to hear the voices of those that have fought this disease and understand that New Hampshire and Iowa voters are weighing all of the candidates' cancer-fighting policies."

Today's press conference highlights a survey commissioned by the American Cancer Society which shows voters across the country say cancer is an issue for them and that the presidential candidates should address it by fighting the disease with a broad-based approach.

The survey, conducted by Peter D. Hart Research, among 801 likely voters nationally, 684 likely Iowa caucus voters and 693 likely New Hampshire voters showed that cancer has touched nearly every voter in the upcoming election. According to the survey, nearly nine out of 10 voters describe cancer as an urgent or serious problem. Over 50 percent of voters say they are concerned about getting cancer themselves and 55 percent have had a member of their immediate family diagnosed with cancer.

"This survey shows that almost every potential voter has been touched by cancer and that candidates need to make fighting cancer a priority," said Seffrin. "It demonstrates that cancer is a priority for voters nationwide. Voters have said they are likely to support candidates who wage a broad-based fight on cancer that includes increasing cancer research funding as well as addressing education and prevention and access to quality health care." The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

For information about cancer, call toll-free anytime 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit the American Cancer Society Website at www.cancer.org.



Unice B. Lieberman
Director, Advocacy Communications
American Cancer Society
2026615710
Unice.Lieberman@cancer.org