LETTER TO CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR

 

Your Name
Your Address
City, State, Zip

Today’s Date

Representative/Senator Jones
VIA E-MAIL/FAX (as applicable)

Dear Representative __________(last name) or
Dear Senator ________________(last name):

I am writing today to urge you to co-sign and pass companion bills HR 653 and S 305, which creates the “National Childhood Brain Tumor Prevention Network Act of 2009.”  This vital legislation amends a portion of the Public Health Service Act and provides grants and coordinates research with respect to the causes and risk factors associated with childhood brain tumors.

As the proposed legislation cites, tumors kill more children than any other disease, and brain tumors are the second most common type of cancer in children.   Childhood brain tumors are the leading cause of death from solid tumors in children.  There are newly recognized types of brain tumors, as defined by the World Health Organization, and many of these newly recognized types occur in children.  The causes of the overwhelming majority of childhood brain tumors are unknown.  Brain tumors have substantial costs for affected children, the families of such children, and society.  Childhood brain tumors cause significant morbidity and the loss of many years of potential life.  The prognosis for most childhood brain tumors is dismal and survivors face lasting adverse health effects.  Because of the relatively low overall incidence of childhood brain tumors, such tumors frequently do not receive sufficient attention and research funding.

No single institution has a sufficient number of patients to independently conduct research that will adequately address the causes of childhood brain tumors.  There has been no comprehensive study analyzing all relevant clinical, biological, and epidemiological aspects of childhood brain tumors to identify potential risk factors and determine the cause of such tumors.  Existing national cooperative clinical oncology groups primarily investigate treatment options and prognosis and do not typically examine the origins of childhood brain tumors or the risk factors associated with such tumors. A significant majority of children with brain tumors are first treated by neurosurgeons and not by oncologists typically involved in such groups.

[INSERT HERE, IN YOUR OWN WORDS, YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH A PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR.]

Thank you for your leadership in the House (or Senate as applicable) and your consideration of this request.  I would appreciate it if you would advise me of your actions on this extremely important and groundbreaking issue.  My e-mail address is _________________.  I look forward to hearing from you soon.  (include your phone number if you wish.)

Sincerely,

your name
your address

Letter provided by Marsi Thrash, Healthcare Lobbyist