By Sarah M. Edelman | Point of View
Arizona’s scorching summer continues as temperatures hit well over 100 degrees, but more than just the thermostat is peaking — we’ve reached the fevered pitch of the electoral season.
It is during this time that the distinctions between candidates, parties, and ideologies are given the spotlight. If you didn’t know any better, you might think that our leaders in Congress have never agreed on anything.
But here in Arizona, our Congressional delegation mostly plays nice once elected (mostly). Our representatives treat their responsibilities with the proper gravitas and have organized the rare opportunities for members of both parties to come together. At a series of semi-regular breakfasts, they meet as colleagues to discuss how best to serve Arizona.
The departing Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) said back in 2019 that the breakfasts are “important for the entire Arizona delegation, both Republicans and Democrats, to get together to talk about issues that are important to Arizona so we can identify where we can work together for the benefit of the Arizona constituents.”
It’s no wonder, given this dynamic, that nine out of our state’s 11 members of Congress are co-sponsors of the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 2407/S.2085), a bill that will expand access to life-saving cancer screenings for those most in need. There are four Democrats, four Republicans, and one Independent here in the Grand Canyon state who have put their name on this legislation (seven members of the House and both of our Senators).
It’s easy to see why.
MCED screenings represent a revolutionary step in cancer care as they can identify dozens of types of cancer through a single blood draw. The bill would ensure Medicare can cover these screenings once they’ve been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
It is also incredibly popular and bipartisan at a time when such qualities are hard to come by in Congress. More than 360 lawmakers in both chambers of Congress have co-sponsored the bill at a time when it’s very rare for something to have such broad support. This goes to show how much our leaders recognize that these cutting-edge screenings will only reduce the burden of cancer if the most at-risk populations can access them.
Local Elected Officials Share Their Support
“Multi-cancer screening tests can detect disease early and save lives,” said Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who was among the first co-sponsors of the legislation and who is actively promoting it to her colleagues in Congress. “We’re eliminating barriers so Arizona seniors can access FDA-approved life-saving care and innovation when they need it.”
That innovation is much-needed. Traditional cancer screening methods, such as mammograms for breast cancer or colonoscopies for colorectal cancer, are effective but limited to detecting only a single type of cancer. MCED tests, by contrast, have the potential to change this paradigm by detecting many types of cancer at once – and in a much less invasive way.
“There’s a revolution out there happening right now,” said Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ 6). “A blood test, possibly even through the mail, that can actually find up to 50 different cancers.”
Congressman Schweikert, who sits on the powerful Ways & Means Committee in the House, has used his position to actively support its passage out of the committee and is poised to play a significant role in getting the legislation across the finish line. “Our goal is sort of to future-proof some of our policies in CMS and Medicare to make these available to Americans,” he concluded.
The legislation reflects the growing recognition among leaders, both in Congress and the scientific community, that early detection is vital to reducing cancer deaths and other burdens. Detecting cancers earlier could also lead to a reduction in Medicare spending, since treating late-stage cancer is such a costly proposition. Proponents further argue that since MCED tests are a less invasive form of cancer screening, improving access for these screenings could lead more individuals to get screened. The logistics and travel complications for seniors to schedule cancer screenings can be burdensome, so making it easier for them to be screened should lead to better patient outcomes.
Patient Groups Rally Behind the Legislation
Groups across Arizona and the country have rallied behind the legislation since its introduction. Local groups like the Cancer Support Community of Arizona, Bag It Cancer, Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona, AZ BIO, Arizona Prostate Cancer Coalition, Arizona Myeloma Network, and many more have teamed up in recent years to present Arizona lawmakers who have supported the bill with a “Cancer Hero” shield that many of them proudly display in their district offices.
“It’s been great to not only meet with our leaders on an issue like this,” said Arizona Prostate Cancer Coalition President Bruce Williams. “But it’s been a wonderful opportunity to join with other groups to unite behind a cause that will undoubtedly lead to lives saved.”
Julie Dunnigan, CEO of Cancer Support Communities of Arizona, said, “Nobody wants to be diagnosed with cancer, but if that day comes, being diagnosed at an early stage usually means a better prognosis, making it is easier to remain hopeful and feel in control. Having a strong emotional and mental outlook leads to better cancer outcomes. In fact, anxiety and depression can interfere with a patient’s ability to cope effectively with cancer and side effects of treatment, so early detection is critical.”
Groups nationally have mobilized as well. The influential American Cancer Society, Prevent Cancer Foundation, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society are just a handful of the countless national organizations who are spreading their message of support to Congressional offices.
“Today, most cancer is detected when people present with symptoms, which is too often after the disease has already progressed,” said Dr. Paul Limburg, Gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic. “Simple, accessible multi cancer early detection blood tests could provide the opportunity to detect more cancers earlier before signs and symptoms appear and when treatments are more effective.”
Legislation Is Only the Beginning
The successful integration of MCED tests into the complicated American healthcare system will require careful collaboration between the government and the private sector. There are several biotech companies, including some from Arizona, who are at the forefront of developing these tests. That research and development requires leadership, and these companies will need support and oversight from government agencies when bringing these tests to market, not only to ensure quality and accuracy, but to secure the trust and adoption among the public.
MCED tests represent a critical turning point in the war on cancer. As lawmakers enthusiastically develop a framework of how to regulate and integrate these promising new tests into healthcare systems, the potential benefits are clear: earlier detection, better patient outcomes, and lower healthcare costs. Passage of this bill could mark the beginning of a new era in cancer care, where the devastating impact of late-stage diagnoses becomes a thing of the past.
Barbara Kavanagh, founder of the Arizona Myeloma Network, said, “We are so hopeful and thankful to Arizona’s leaders on this issue. Now let’s finish the job!”
Editor’s Note: Ms. Edelman is a health care communications professional in the greater Phoenix area
