Dent: Buy Stamps to Fight Cancer

How can we continue to fund important cancer research when the economy gets tight?

LV Congressman Charlie Dent has an answer. His Fight Colorectal Cancer Stamp Act will allow the post office to sell a “semipostal” stamp that raises money for critical colorectal cancer research programs. It will increase funding for proven federal research programs without increasing federal government spending.

“Countless Americans have battled colorectal cancer and many more have experienced the pain of losing a loved one to this aggressive disease,” Dent said. “Federal research has played a vital role in saving the lives of many diagnosed with colorectal cancer, but despite the important advances we have seen in recent years, the disease continues to impact far too many American families.”

Since 1980, the detection and treatment of colorectal cancer has dramatically improved thanks to research conducted by the Department of Defense (DOD), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH). In part to federal research, patients diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer today are living significantly longer than those diagnosed with the disease less than 30 years ago. In a growing number of cases, patients whose cancer was detected early in its development have even been cured. However, colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

Olympus Corporation of the Americas, which is headquartered in the 15th District, has been instrumental in promoting colorectal cancer research and awareness in the Lehigh Valley region and across the country.

"As a leader in the medical technology industry, Olympus is committed to educating Americans about colorectal cancer prevention," said Olympus Corporation of the Americas President and CEO, F. Mark Gumz. “We applaud Congressman Dent for his work to improve the health of Americans. Increased research and early detection of colon cancer through screening will help foster the eradication of this preventable disease."

“As the friend of many patients and survivors, I am grateful to Representative Charlie Dent for his leadership on this critical legislation that will increase federal funding for colorectal cancer and bring much-need attention to the fight against this disease during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. As the daughter of a letter carrier who collected stamps as a child, I am personally thrilled about the idea. This stamp will help us raise much needed funds for colorectal cancer and will allow patients, caregivers and advocates to show their determination to win the fight against colorectal cancer every time they use the postal service,” said Carlea Bauman, President of the Colorectal Cancer Coalition.

The March introduction of Dent’s bill coincides with National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, which was officially designated over a decade ago by President Bill Clinton.