Digby, as usual speaks for me.
It seems as if everyone I know is close to someone these days who is battling cancer --- or battling it themselves. It's a daunting prospect for anyone who has to face it, but it must be espcially daunting to those who don't have adequate health care. In fact, they figure that many more people could be successfully treated if they had access to a doctor and could seek earlier treatment.
Cancer does seem to be everywhere these days, both in the news and in our homes. The Daily Kos community has experienced the diagnoses and deaths of Kossacks and Kossack loved ones in Carnacki's Let's Fight Cancer series.
The very public cancer stories of Elizabeth Edwards and Tony Snow have brought the issue back into the political world and into the public eye. And for anyone who has lived up close to cancer, that public attention is a mixed blessing. For those who've lost someone they loved, it always brings back the sting of that loss. But it also brings the hope that the public focus will somehow translate into more research into prevention, into better, less barbaric treatments, and possibly even into a cure. And to expanding access to care to everyone fighting cancer.
That's why Lance Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation exists--to forward that hope. Today is Livestrong Day. Below the fold, read Lance Armstrong's blog post about today:
Today is LIVESTRONG Day and I, united with 200 advocates from across this country, will walk the halls of Congress demanding that our Senators and Representatives do more to support the fight against cancer.
We will urge them to support The Cancer Screening, Treatment, and Survivorship Act of 2007, introduced this week by Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Olympia Snowe, Representative Jan Schakowsky and Representative Sue Myrick. This bill is a bold expansion of access to early detection, treatment and survivorship services aimed at reducing cancer mortality rates and improving the quality of life of those diagnosed.
Today is LIVESTRONG Day and individuals across this country will be uniting to host over 230 local LIVESTRONG Day events. From Sean Swarmer, a cancer survivor, hopefully summiting Mt. Mckinley to a luminaria event in Las Vegas celebrating and honoring the spirit of those touched by cancer to a food blog event called a Taste of Yellow people all over this country and in some cases the world have found their way of participating in this fight.
Here's what you can do.