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Maryland Senators Sarbanes and Mikulski urge increased federal funding for kidney cancer research with the encouragement of two Maryland residents who belong to the Kidney Cancer Association.

(PRWEB) April 23, 2004 -- U.S. Senators Paul Sarbanes and Barbara Mikulski are urging increased federal funding for research in renal cancer as the result of effective lobbying by two kidney cancer advocates who belong to the Kidney Cancer Association (KCA).

Maryland residents Janette Granet and Sue Friedman recently joined thirty-three kidney cancer survivors, their family members and friends, in Washington D.C. for an advocacy training program hosted by the Kidney Cancer Association. In all, sixteen states were represented.

Training sessions began on March 30th, and attendees were educated on how Congress works, key components of a successful meeting with a member of Congress (or a legislative aide), the importance of speaking with a unified voice, along with the basics of effective advocacy. Trainees were also given message points they would deliver during their meetings with legislative offices the following day.

To advance the fight against renal cell carcinoma, participants asked members of Congress to increase fiscal year 2005 funding for federal cancer programs, particularly medical research at the National Institutes of Health, including the National Cancer Institute. In addition, participants lobbied for legislator support to protect Medicare reimbursement for off-label use of prescription drugs, a critcally important issue for retirees who have kidney cancer.

The advocacy efforts of the Kidney Cancer Association began in 1990, when founder Eugene Schonfeld and other members of the Association met with members of Congress. A major accomplishment of the KCA's early advocacy effort was encouraging fast-track approval by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) of IL-2, which remains as the only FDA approved therapy for the treatment of metastatic renal cancer.

As a result of the KCA's effective advocacy effort, Senators Mikulski and Sarbanes are urging the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education to make kidney cancer research a priority in the Fiscal Year 2005 Appropriations Bill.

KCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Bro said, "We commend Senators Sarbanes and Mikulski for taking the lead on this issue of critical importance to kidney cancer patients. Each day that passes without effective treatment for this disease results in the death of thirty-three Americans."

The KCA's ad-hoc advocacy group, The Kidney Cancer Alliance, includes more than 150 members representing thirty states. Those interested in becoming legislative activists in the fight against kidney cancer, may join the Alliance by requesting a copy of the KCA DVD video training program by telephoning (847) 332-1051.

The KCA is an international voluntary health organization representing 60,000 constituents in the United States and 90 countries.