Professional societies that represent radiation oncology service providers and cancer survivors are taking their case to Congress, sponsoring a briefing on March 31 for members of Congress and their staffs on the role of radiation oncology in the war on cancer.
The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) hope to educate congressional representatives, especially those serving their first term, about the value of radiation oncology as a cancer treatment, new technologies and significant advances in patient care, and community cancer treatment centers' focus on patient safety.
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), a registered nurse and advocate for patient safety, and Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC), a breast cancer survivor who underwent radiation therapy, are cosponsoring the briefing. Patient advocate organizations are represented by the Community Oncology Alliance and the National Patient Advocate Foundation.
Support is also being provided by a number of community cancer treatment center corporations and by radiation oncology vendors.
Of the three primary cancer treatments -- surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy -- radiation therapy is often the most misunderstood and is frequently confused with diagnostic imaging, said Dave Adler, ASTRO's director of government relations. He pointed out that while radiation dose errors receive significant media attention, the effectiveness and safety of radiation therapy treatments that occur every day are not as well publicized.
ASRT expects the briefing will provide a prime opportunity to educate federal lawmakers about the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (CARE) bill, according to Christine Lung, vice president of government relations and public policy. Now entering its 12th year of congressional consideration, the CARE bill would establish minimum education and certification standards for clinical and technical personnel involved in diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy treatment.
