It is vital that more men and women become involved in political advocacy in the field of prostate cancer, both as members of groups such as NASPCC and the state prostate cancer coalitions, and as individuals. Groups of constituents can have a very powerful influence. We must tell our elected officials that it is a matter of life or death to thousands of men; we must have money available to continue excellent basic and translational research. Given our fiscal situation we want to assure that, at a minimum, research continues at the current rate and that it is translated into clinical practice as soon as possible. We do not want to see the process slowed or stopped.

A program for advocacy is being developed by NASPCC. For example, we have learned by visiting Senator Ted Stevens' office that he is trying to abolish the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) (http://cdmrp.army.mil/pcrp/default.htm) and move its activities to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). (http://www.nci.nih.gov/) As a result, NASPCC wrote a letter to Senator Stevens and to members of the DOD Appropriations Committee requesting that they not only retain and support the CDMRP program but also increase the funding from $85 million to $200 million so that the researchers can conduct necessary clinical trials. This vital prostate cancer research and clinical trials program must be saved. More advocacies WILL make a difference. We need you to write letters on this issue. Go to the DOD section to find a letter that you can use as a template.

NASPCC has written a letter of thanks to US Senate members who wrote to the Director of NCI asking how to speed up a cure for cancer. To shorten the timetable for finding a cure for cancer by five years would require an increase in NCI's Bypass Budget from $4.9 billion to $6.1 billion, an increase that NASPCC is supporting. We would be happy to share some of our letters with you so that you can use a letter writing campaign to fax or mail your opinions to the appropriate recipients.

• We must advocate increasing the budgets of NCI, NIH, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• We must educate all of our congressional representatives and senators about the need of funds for prostate cancer research, clinical trials, awareness, and prevention programs.
• We must tell our congressional members loud and clear that we do not want to be left out of the budgeting process.

Additionally, it takes the FDA far too long to approve a new drug or medical device. NASPCC advocates shortening the time it takes to give new promising drugs an interim approval.

Another issue we are advocating is to continue to fund, within Medicare, the costs of medicine for erectile dysfunction (ED). Members of congress have recommended that these costs not be allowed because they are only “lifestyle” drugs. That is not true. If men had no options for treating the problems sometimes experienced after prostate cancer treatment, they would be reticent to follow early detection guidelines for prostate cancer and would end up being diagnosed with late, rather than, early (and treatable) disease. Another related issue is Medicare reimbursement. It is handled differently in different states. We need to advocate for consistency no matter where a man lives.

Also, PC researchers need to move their findings into clinical trials. We must advocate greater participation by men in clinical trials. There will be no new drugs if there are no clinical trials or men participating in them. 

By becoming better advocates we will all become a part of the fight to find a cure for prostate cancer. Volunteer to become a member of each state's prostate cancer coalition. State coalitions can set up networks of activists and advocates so that the voices of a few become the voices of many. If your state has not started a coalition let us know and NASPCC will help you start one.

Paul Sanders, Chair,
NASPCC Advocacy Committee