Clinton Announces Ambitious Breast Cancer Research Effort

WASHINGTON — A proposal by Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton would provide $300 million a year in increased government funding on breast cancer research, focusing on treatment and exploring possible genetic and environmental triggers for the disease.

The presidential hopeful and former first lady discussed her plan with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres on her television show, which was scheduled to air Monday. As president, Clinton told DeGeneres, she would set a goal of finding a cure for the disease within 10 years.

Clinton's plan would increase funding for breast cancer research and treatment through programs at the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, and the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.

It would also help more low-income women gain access to screenings like mammograms by making them more affordable. Among other things, she would eliminate Medicare co-payments for mammograms.

Clinton also planned to propose a new program to explore racial disparities in diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

About 40,000 women died of breast cancer in the United States in 2007, and some 240,000 new cases were expected to be diagnosed this year.

Comments

[BillCouzens]

10:14 PM on 04/07/2008

President Nixon during his January 1971 State of the Union address first declared his intention for the war on cancer.

Since that time everyday more than 1,500 men, women and children die of cancer in the U.S.

We are seeing increases in many types of cancers to include pediatric cancer patients that are being diagnosed at a rate of two class rooms full of children or approximat­ely 46+ children every school day in this country.

The American Cancer Society reports this year in the United States in neighborho­ods across the country we will have over 200,000 women that will diagnosed with breast cancer and over 40 thousand women will die of breast cancer.

In the book The Secret War on Cancer, author Devra Davis, who heads up the world's first Center on Environmen­tal Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute points out that while American’s today are living longer and better, we are also seeing the growth in chronic diseases, like cancer and neurologic­al problems. The question of the combined effects of radiation and small doses of chemicals on our health over the long term is generally not being asked by those in positions to set standards for such materials.

Yes the cure is critical..­.but we must look to prevention and the environmen­tal exposures choices that are both known and suspected to be linked to cancer.

Bill Couzens Founder Lesscancer­.org

[presto]

09:44 PM on 04/07/2008

The comment here are disgusting­. Does any one think before they post?

Clinton co-sponsor­ed the Breast Cancer and Environmen­tal Research Act in 2007.

In 2005, she was inducted into the National Breast Cancer Coalition'­s Congressio­nal Hall of Fame for her work increasing breast cancer awareness
and research funding.

As First Lady she helped create the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer.

She is getting totally trashed her and for what? A breast cancer plan. Something she has been involved in for years and years. This is absurd.

[Syco]

08:19 PM on 04/07/2008

I always imagined people in the porn industry as being major supports of research for breast cancer

[LucieLee]

07:12 PM on 04/07/2008

Sen. Obama has already beat her to it......He talks about Women's health isues , including breast cancer on his website...­.....uh-oh Hillary~!

[sociocanuck]

07:39 PM on 04/07/2008

To be fair, while Obama might have beat her to it as posting it as a campaign issue, Hillary does have a bit of a history with heallth care issues.

That said, it should be a non-issue. Both candidates have plans. You don't need to be a woman to understand cancer - though certain types may be gender specific. But then, guys can get a few of those gender-spe­cific neoplasms too. Prostate cancer comes to mind. Though I guess thinking about it that way does make you wonder - why is Hillary being gender-spe­cific, and not gender-neu­tral by suggesting funding for all of the most indiscrimi­batory and pervasive cancers.

It's hard not to see where the suspicion of deliberate con-artist­ry comes from. But it's just as likely there's nothing to it except a temporary lapse of thinking in a gender-neu­tral sense.

[presto]

11:31 PM on 04/07/2008

Health care is not a non-issue. Clinton has worked on breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and cancer research in general. Making a gender issue out of this is absurd.

[presto]

11:29 PM on 04/07/2008

Not exactly. Hillary has been working on this since Obama was in college...­uh-oh Lucie.

[findingthetruth]

05:30 PM on 04/07/2008

Lord, cancer patients will be in serious trouble waiting on a SOLUTION from Hillary---­-period.

[compassionone]

05:20 PM on 04/07/2008

Obama would do well to begin appealing to woman on the emotional issues that attract many woman to Clinton.

Equality of woman in society, parenting, breast cancer, autism, etc.

If he can pick up on these concerns these Hillary supporters will still have a voice for these hot topics and turn support over to Obama when Hillary drops out.

[debwarot]

04:29 PM on 04/07/2008

Great! This is wonderful! Good job, Hillary! It may well be pandering towards what you perceive as your 'base', but it is still an important step in the fight against this disease.

However, that being said, I remain firm in my belief that (1) most women are too intelligen­t to base their vote or political backing solely on gender and (2) this admittedly very fine proposal doesn't make you a better presidenti­al candidate.

[drmavis]

02:41 PM on 04/07/2008

I have no problem with breast cancer research (I got my PhD doing lymphoma research and continue to do medical research) but this Clinton proposal is blatant pandering to her base and an attempt to change the news cycle. Why not increase funding of cancer research in general, or the #1 cause of cancer induced mortality - lung cancer? Everything she does seems to be microtrend poll tested and calculated to help her in her quest for power.

[hubbstan]

02:51 PM on 04/07/2008

Its great to support breast cancer research. But I see Hillary's move on this now is politicall­y motivated more than anything else. It is her way to secure her base of women supporters­. But that also shows the only way she does things is to pitch one group again another.

[ginnypoo]

07:53 PM on 04/07/2008

You see everything she does from your own narrow perspectiv­e.....no surprise there.

[SonofLiberty1]

02:54 PM on 04/07/2008

For a PhD Drmavis, you aren't winning any awards now are you?

This is exactly what she should be doing and what Obama should be doing now.

Just because one has a PhD doesn't assume that it follows that your opinions would be of the same relevance when talking about anything else.

Of course, as a researcher­, you should know that the scientific method calls for much study and testing.

Pure opinion, without real research, is not good science. And it's not good for anything else either.

I give you an F for failing.

Sheesh, and this is the caliber of so-called researcher­s?

No wonder my bills are so darn high!

[drmavis]

03:20 PM on 04/07/2008

Lay off the personal attacks (you don't know anything about me or my accomplish­ments), read my post, and respond to my points next time.

[nuglet304]

02:33 PM on 04/07/2008

***and this just in: 8 out of 10 obama supporters now oppose all funding for breast cancer research.*­**

[hubbstan]

02:53 PM on 04/07/2008

ok maybe you can go further to say that all the women supporting Obama encourage break cancer spread...

[Aleka]

05:47 PM on 04/07/2008

Are you always that stupid?

No one objects to Breast Cancer research. They object to Clinton pandering to Edwards and women to get votes.

[ohioangel]

07:30 PM on 04/07/2008

BINGO!

First the "Poverty Czar" (for John) and now the "Breast Cancer Research Effort" (for Liz).

She's pimping that endorsemen­t hard.

[ginnypoo]

07:56 PM on 04/07/2008

She has supported and worked for health care and research for over 30 years, did Obama start before her? When he was 12 did he collect cans and turn them in for money for breast cancer research..­..you Obamatrons are so stupid you actually are arguing against Hillary supporting breast cancer research as if Obama somehow owns it and she is stealing it....are you actually FOR breast cancer research or just looking to trash Hillary, it's hard to tell any more.

[ntf1]

02:03 PM on 04/07/2008

Actually for those of you who are completely unable it seems to do a quick google search--Hi­llary has been nominated in 2005 to The National Breast Cancer Coalition Hall of Fame saying:

"Clinton was selected because of her advocacy efforts in the fight against breast cancer. Clinton says that although many strides have been made in that fight, there is still a great amount of work to be done.

Clinton is an original cosponsor of the Breast Cancer and Environmen­tal Research Act of 2005, which was introduced in Congress last month. "

http://www­.ny1.com/n­y1/content­/index.jsp­?stid=3&ai­d=51129

In addition, she has argued and championed the issue of breast cancer as far back as her days as first lady.

Now I am aware that cosponsori­ng a bill requires no action or dedication on the part of the sponsorer, but it does send home the message to constituen­ts where one stands on an issue. Therefore, to say that she is proposing this just now as a means of regaining the women's vote or Edwards' support is I find pathetic. Maybe it is you who needs to step outside of your shell and look at what it is you are saying.

[treadway123]

02:33 PM on 04/07/2008

Ya we all get 2,000 as soon as Hillary is elected. She's going to ask Mark Penn to give Americans back some of the 10,000,000­. Hillary gave him and give a piece of the pie to the cancer research center. Oh, now maybe Bill going to give some of that 51 million he got from burkles to the cancer society. You know they have so much money, and use it so wisely, and ran this campagne so financiall­y smart I'm sure she could find a few million for the cancer research center, after all she did so good she had to loan herself 5 million dollars on her campagne trail to keep going! Yes, this is the woman that surely could find a few million laying around for the cancer center----­-----even if it was from Peter Paul on tax fraud-----­-----or Mark Penn and his colobian connection­s. After all she came up with 381 Million dollars of pork spending, to Obama 92 million and Mccains 0 spending. Ya this woman has a way of comeing up with dirty or clean money as she sucks Americans dry to get it--------­--I'm sure she can promise a smalll amount back to the cancer research center----­------God bless her!

[AnninCA]

03:29 PM on 04/07/2008

You are the reason Breast Cancer is still not on the top research list.

In any case. Boo on anyone who doesn't support this.


I'm tired of my girlfriend­s dying from this disease.

I don't care if it's a diversion.

It is relevant

[ginnypoo]

08:00 PM on 04/07/2008

The facts you are citing are wrong.....­just fyi, Bill didn't get 51 mill from Burkles, it is 15 mill....at least try to use your brain to trash them....a few facts, something interestin­g, just a bunch of stuff that's wrong makes you look silly.

[hubbstan]

02:59 PM on 04/07/2008

I agree that Hillary has a lot of good plans or ideas. But given how divisive she is she will not be able to get a majority in Washington to realize her plans. Whats the goodness of promises without a chance to realize them? Her campaign has been using opportunis­tic tactics using one group against the other and discountin­g whoever not on their side.

[OtayPanky]

01:53 PM on 04/07/2008

IF I"M ELECTED PRESIDENT, EVERYONE GETS A BMW - OR A MERCEDES - OR A VETTE - OR A PORSCHE. YOUR CHOICE!!!

So vote for OTAY...ota­y?

[FreedomLoverX]

01:40 PM on 04/07/2008

If she only put forth in the senate 1% of what Obama has, there might be a shred of truth in this. Instead, this pathologic­al LIAR just keeps going - LIE after LIE. So, how stupid does she think women are? We are going to vote for a president based on their breast-can­cer stand?

[LawOfAttraction]

02:18 PM on 04/07/2008

Hillary's going after the women's vote strictly. She's positioned herself as the woman's candidate and her entire campaign is based on 3 things:
1) Her husband's name recognitio­n

2) Cronyism by promising everyone that supporters her cushy well paying jobs in her administra­tion

3) The fact that she's a woman.

Her constituen­cy is mostly women desperate to see a woman in the White House, regardless of qualificat­ion and ignorant people who wrongly credit Bill Clinton for the prosperity of the 90s (rather than Alan Greenspan and the internet bubble).

If Barack Obama had been as sleazy a politician and had exposed as an opportunis­tic liar as Hillary has, African Americans would have abandoned him long ago.

Meanwhile, Hillary's campaign has been racked by one scandal after another; her multidimen­sional hypocrisy on NAFTA, sleazy Muslim whisper campaign (complete with Matt Drudge photo), her never ending surrogate race baiting, her delusional James Bond adventures in Bosnia, her now disproved claims of "35 years of experience­", etc, etc, AND YET - women continue to support her based on simple gender bias.

It's so sad to see women put gender before party and before country.
And even sadder that so many women can be so easily manipulate­d by a purely emotional appeal to Sister Solidarity that nullifies logic and reason.

There are many women who have seen the light and jumped off Hillary's bandwagon but there are still many more that remain on board for nothing more than the sheer estrogen level of her

[MaggieCat]

02:49 PM on 04/07/2008

Law of Attraction­,

You are so right! As a woman, I am disgusted with the premise that we must support this woman, this woman, this woman.....­My God this woman! I recently posted a commentary to www.democr­ats.org wherein I proposed some rational thought and informatio­n for dems to peruse and think for themselves­. The posting did not use fowl language, nor was it incendiary­. Was it controvers­ial, yes. Did it criticize the party for some of its tactics and the candidate Clinton? Yes it did.

The organizati­on removed the posting from the blog and notified me that I was no longer allowed to post at the site. When peaceful dissent and free speech are removed, that is the layer of freedom that we must all protect. Who would ever think that the DNC would participat­e in censorship­? Until this happened, I would never have believed this. Sad.

I pray that more see the light and bring reason back. Your argument was lucid and completely rational. Keep on talking.

[SonofLiberty1]

03:00 PM on 04/07/2008

And Obama's whole story is that he is a Black United States Senator, NOT that he has done anything of any relevance.

[SonofLiberty1]

02:58 PM on 04/07/2008

Oh yeah Freedom Lover X???

Gee, I think that having won a SECOND SENATE TERM counts for something don't you?

Obama hasn't even finished ONE TERM and he was already running for president when he was elected to the Senate?

Please put your thinking cap on.

He's Black, don't you know and that's all he is other than being an excellent orator.

He hasn't done anything for me or my family as a United States Senator running for President!

[ginnypoo]

08:02 PM on 04/07/2008

He lied and called you a racist ....that's something.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

01:40 PM on 04/07/2008

Thank God at least someone is finally talking about issues. I lost my best friend to breast cancer that rapidly spread throughout the rest of her body. It was awful to watch. The docs tried every treatment they had at their disposal, but her cancer was very aggressive­. New research for a cure AND new screening techniques are badly needed.

[SonofLiberty1]

03:03 PM on 04/07/2008

Trollstake­yyourmeds,

Yes, and I have lost family members too and you have my best wishes.
Cancer can be a devastatin­g way to go and is quickly becoming the number one
killer in my family as of this date.:(

[BDunne]

01:34 PM on 04/07/2008

I think its a great effort, but to be honest -- it sounds very phony. I just don't trust the Clintons.

Just like the job offer -- I mean povery czar she mentioned last week.

[MarkieBee]

01:30 PM on 04/07/2008

HILLARY: "I've waited to announce this because I see that my base - women - is starting to erode. I rel;aize that if this issue was so important to me I would have been relating it to my health care plan for months now. But hey, I'm losing over here and I need some press to take the stink off of Mark Penn and my donations to my OWN charitable organizati­on. Thank you for your time."

[ohioangel]

07:35 PM on 04/07/2008

Hillaryiou­s! And true. How can some be so blinded?