Dear [Decision Maker],

* Please personalize your message I want to make sure you know that 60% of cancer deaths could be prevented. To accomplish this, we must transform the current health care system, which focuses on treatment, into one that strongly promotes prevention. Forty six million Americans are uninsured, and 25 million more are underinsured. Together, these two groups represent nearly a quarter of all Americans. Uninsured people are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced cancer, which requires more invasive and costly treatment, and is more often fatal. And even people with insurance often do not receive preventive care or early cancer screenings, because the system does not promote wellness and health, but rather is primarily focused on treating people once they have become sick. Health care reform that is good for cancer patients will be good for virtually all Americans. Cancer is nearly two hundred different diseases, many of which are very serious and sometimes fatal. People fighting cancer come into contact with every facet of our nation's health care system. If you can fix the system to provide better care for cancer patients, you can fix the system for nearly everyone.

Meaningful reform must include adequate, available, affordable, and administratively simple health insurance coverage for all Americans. Individuals must have timely access and coverage of the complete continuum of quality, evidence-based healthcare services, including prevention and early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. The costs must not be excessive, and must be continuous, renewable, and available without regard to health status or prior claims history.

Thank you for your attention to this lifesaving issue.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]

President Obama and U.S. Congress