Nick C Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 I made it on the record...baby steps. Public Health Committee JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT Bill No.: SB-1033 Title: AN ACT PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR EARLY DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF LUNG CANCER. Vote Date: 3/9/2007 Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute PH Date: 2/21/2007 File No.: SPONSORS OF BILL: Public Health Committee REASONS FOR BILL: To require the Department of Public Health to establish within available appropriations a pilot program to improve early diagnosis, detection and treatment of lung cancer. RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY: Nancy Berger, Office of Multicultural Health and Comprehensive Cancer, Department of Public Health: The hospital selection criteria specify that they are equipped with CT scanning and whether they serve low-income and underserved areas or populations. While all counties have some underserved designations based upon federal criteria, the largest number of medically underserved designations occurs in Fairfield, Hartford, and New Haven counties. In May 2004, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded, “the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against screening asymptomatic persons for lung cancer with either low dose computerized tomography (LDCT), chest x-ray (CXR), sputum cytology, or combination of these tests.” However, in October 2006 the New England Journal of Medicine suggests the efficacy of using LDCT at earlier stages. The question of whether earlier diagnosis actually leads to reduced mortality has not yet been determined. Concerns that screening procedures also lead to false-positive test results and potential harms associated with invasive diagnostic testing has led the National Cancer Institute to recommend caution, suggesting that further evidence is needed to justify screening of asymptomatic individuals on a routine basis. Teresa Younger, Executive Director, Permanent Commission on The Status of Women The Permanent Commission on the Status of Women and CWHC urge you to support this preventive public health program which, with limited dollars, should target racial and ethnic disparities I lung cancer and health care services. While screening and detection are essential, prevention of tobacco–related addictions are also critical. Several years ago, Connecticut enacted legislation which would provide smoking cessation devices and counseling to Medicaid patients. To date, this program has not been implemented. It would be penny wise and pound foolish to invest in treatment while failing to recoup federal dollars for preventive care for nicotine addiction. Glenn Cassis, Executive Director, African-American Affairs Commission Lung cancer survival rates are disturbing for African Americans. The incidence rate among African American men is more than 50% higher than those of White males although their exposure to cigarette smoking, a primary risk factor for lung cancer, is lower. NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT: Jerold R. Mande, Associate Director, Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine - Board Director , Connecticut Cancer Partnership – Former Cancer Policy Advisor at the White House I urge the committee to proceed with caution. Tragically, unlike breast and colon cancer, we do not yet have a screening test for lung cancer that we know will extend life or improve the quality of life. Connecticut Cancer Partnership has a proposal to establish a state lung cancer registry that would provide an important tool to enable Connecticut's scientists to lead the way in developing effective lung cancer screening programs. Frank C. Detterbeck, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.C.C.P Lung cancer causes more cancer deaths than the next four leading causes of deaths combined, and in fact lung cancer is the major driver of the overall cancer mortality rate in Connecticut. While we are able to battle many types of cancer, we have made little progress with lung cancer. The major reason for the high rate of lung cancer deaths is that our current health care system does not detect lung cancer until it is at an advanced stage in the majority of patients. Judith A. Levi, Connecticut Lung Cancer Alliance In Connecticut, approximately 2,720 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007 and 1,860 will die. These deaths will be caused by late diagnosis. The International Early Lung Cancer Action Project study found that the earliest stage of lung cancer can be detected in 85% of patients with annual CT screening. Despite the compelling facts, lung cancer remains the most under-funded and under-researched of all major cancers. Only $1,800 is spent on federal research per lung cancer death while breast cancer receives $23,500 per estimated deaths and prostate cancer receives $14,500. Nicholas T. Cappiello Current medicine has the technology to screen those at risk. Mammograms, pap smears and colonoscopies are all prescribed for those in high risk groups and yet for the most lethal cancer, lung cancer, there is no effective screening practice in place. NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION: NONE Reported by: Beverley Henry Date: 3-12-07 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ztweb Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Way to go!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barbara5452 Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 WONDERFUL !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanaBrooke Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Great job!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treebywater Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 You're my hero, Nick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harn Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Great job, Nick! Where do we go from here? I'm feeling it's time for me to get proactive here in CT. I am shocked to find that LC groups are non existent here in southeastern CT... Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.S. I Love You Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Thank You, Nick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welthy Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Oh Nick, you are such a treasure! Your Mom would be proud. Welthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sis Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Great work, Nick!! Your Mom would be so proud of you! Ellie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather_T Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Way to go Thank You Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trish2418 Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 You're amazing, Nick! Trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TracyD Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Way to go Nick!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhutch1366 Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Thank you, Nick. That's where I grew up. Keep up the good work. XOXOXOX MayAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 congrats Dude, Nice work!!! thanks for that. Baby steps are right!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 You are awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyT Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Wow Nick! That is GREAT! NancyT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myrnalu Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Thats Great Nick. WAY TO GO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen1 Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 That is great! Thank you for being the kind of person who takes action and makes a difference. Your mom raised a winner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick C Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 Kathy (Harn) The next step is there will probably be another public hearing...where and how all that goes down...not sure, this is an initial civics lesson for me. However, making it through one committee is important. As far as groups in CT, the Lung Cancer Alliance has a "chapter" here in CT (basically a representative who volunteers to run point) and Keri (my wife) is a member. This way they let her know when there is something LC related to do. Something else I discovered was you don't have to be from a state to speak at a public hearing...lookout Albany and Boston...I'll be watching your state health agendas as well! Everyone else, thanks for the kind words and support. I've not yet begun to fight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth R Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Way to go! The only way to make change is to DO SOMETHING! Thankyou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ursol Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Nick, Awesome job! Thank you for doing this. My surgeon was mentioned there as well. Lilly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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