State Sen. Roxanne Persaud (left) accepts the ACS CAN “Distinguished Advocacy Award” for her efforts in increasing most cancers care entry, joined by ACS CAN Senior Authorities Relations Director Michael Davoli.
Picture courtesy of ACS CAN
Greater than 130 passionate most cancers advocates, together with survivors, sufferers, and caregivers, converged on the state Capitol Tuesday for Most cancers Motion Day, an annual occasion hosted by the American Most cancers Society Most cancers Motion Community (ACS CAN).
Armed with private tales and highly effective messages, they met with state lawmakers, urging them to take motion on insurance policies that might rework most cancers care and assist struggle the illness.
“Cancer Action Day is a chance for patients and survivors to elevate their voices,” stated Michael Davoli, senior authorities relations director for ACS CAN New York. “Our organization is committed to working with state lawmakers to help prevent, treat, and end the cancer burden as we know it – for all New Yorkers. Our message to lawmakers today is – you play a crucial role in that fight.”
Most cancers survivors, caregivers, and sufferers collect in Albany to advocate for life-saving insurance policies throughout Most cancers Motion Day.Picture courtesy of ACS CAN
The main target of this 12 months’s occasion was threefold: advocating for laws that may enhance the probabilities of survival for lung most cancers sufferers, updating New York’s paid household and medical depart program, and increasing entry to affected person navigation companies throughout the state.
Among the many volunteers was Jacqueline Nesbit, a two-time lung most cancers survivor, who shared her expertise with the excessive out-of-pocket prices related to lung most cancers screenings. Nesbit attended Most cancers Motion Day to advertise Senate Invoice 2000, which lately handed unanimously within the Senate. If signed into regulation, the invoice would remove cost-sharing for lung most cancers screenings and follow-up exams for eligible New Yorkers insured via state-regulated well being plans, together with Medicaid.
“We need to do better in detecting lung cancer in New York. Screening is incredibly effective, but very few New Yorkers who are eligible for screening actually receive it,” Nesbit stated. “This is often because the cost burden for follow-up care is too high and inhibits people from completing the lifesaving screening process.”
Stacey Betler, an advocate and survivor, recounted her harrowing expertise of being recognized with breast most cancers at simply 27, whereas pregnant along with her second youngster — after which shedding her job within the midst of all of it. Betler emphasised the necessity for enhancements to the state’s paid household and medical depart packages, which she believes fail to fulfill the wants of most cancers sufferers.
Advocates urged lawmakers to enhance protection for most cancers testing and screening. Picture courtesy of ACS CAN
“Our state’s paid leave programs do not meet the needs of the people they aim to serve. It surely did not alleviate the near insurmountable burdens I faced as a cancer patient and sole provider for my kids. I was fighting for my life and my livelihood and looking to the state for real support,” stated Betler. “Had the state’s paid leave programs enabled me to receive job protection, health insurance continuation, and a livable wage, I might’ve weathered the storm without half the trauma that I still carry with me today, 15 years later.”
Betler is advocating for Senate Invoice 172 and Meeting Invoice 84, which would supply essential enhancements to paid depart packages, together with eradicating the $170-per-week cap on advantages and growing the stipend to 67% of the state’s common weekly wage by 2029.
ACS CAN advocates additionally urged lawmakers to assist Meeting Invoice 6586 and Senate Invoice 5565, which might develop entry to affected person navigation companies, which assist individuals navigate the nation’s complicated healthcare system.
Emily Tier, a palliative care social employee from Binghamton, highlighted the significance of affected person navigation in reworking most cancers care.
“Navigating the health care system can be immensely intimidating and confusing for patients, especially those coming into contact with the system for the first time. Patient navigators provide information and support to guide patients through appointments, treatments, and, ultimately, survivorship,” stated Tier. “Where we can, we need to prioritize improving access to resources that we know can lead patients to more time doing what matters most to them with who matters most to them.”
State Sen. Senator Roxanne Persaud was honored by advocates and survivors.Picture courtesy of ACS CAN
The day additionally featured the presentation of ACS CAN’s “Distinguished Advocacy Award” to southeast Brooklyn state Sen. Roxanne Persaud and Meeting Member Pamela Hunter of Syracuse for his or her contributions to most cancers care. The award, introduced on behalf of the group, acknowledges their efforts to develop entry to biomarker testing and take away boundaries to most cancers screening.
“Senator Persaud and Assemblywoman Hunter have been invaluable allies in our mission to reduce the cancer burden across New York,” stated Davoli. “Their leadership in expanding access to biomarker testing and removing barriers to cancer screening have brought hope into patients’ lives and equity into conversations around cancer care.”
Persaud represents New York’s nineteenth Senate District, encompassing Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Sheepshead Bay, and components of Flatlands and Bergen Seashore.
