G2G Congressional Briefing for Rare Cancer Day

Over 550,000 Americans are diagnosed with a rare form of cancer every year. Rare cancer account for 380 of 400 distinct forms of cancer, almost 1/3 of all diagnoses, and all pediatric-specific cancers. Despite inequities in cancer treatment access, clinical trial diversity, research spending on cancers that are not common, bias, and other areas impacting patients, ALL cancer patients can benefit from molecular diagnostics. This is critical because the molecular driver of each person’s cancer informs which treatment is the best option, especially for rare and understudied cancers where patients lack treatment protocols and therapeutic options. In fact, some treatments can even exacerbate the cancer and cut lives far too short. Currently, few patients have access to molecular diagnostics. Dial in to learn why and what you can do about it!

Speakers:

Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC)
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS)
John DeMuro, Federal Legislative Affairs Director, Moffitt Cancer Center
David Hysong, Patient and Founder of SHEPHERD Foundation
BrandiLee Sawyer, Advocate who lost her son at 3 years old to cancer
Theresa Boyle, MD, PhD, Associate/Tenured Member, Medical Director of Solid Tumor Genetics, Director of Oncologic Molecular Pathology Fellowship Program, Moffitt Cancer Center
Phylicia Woods, Esq., Director of Government Affairs and Alliance Development for GRAIL
Chris Jones, Senior Policy Advisor, Congressman Gus Bilirakis