Ferraro urges more funding for blood cancer

Former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro testified before a Senate subcommittee Thursday

By Thurston Hatcher
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Days after revealing her own battle with cancer, former Representative Geraldine Ferraro urged lawmakers and the public Thursday to devote more money and attention to blood-related cancers.

Ferraro, who has an incurable form of blood cancer called multiple myeloma, told Senate Appropriations Committee members that when her disease is grouped with leukemia and lymphoma, the mortality rate is second only to lung cancer.

Yet other diseases such as colon, breast and prostate cancer receive far more attention and funding, she said.

ALSO Ferraro using thalidomide against blood cancer

"I'm not suggesting for one minute that attention or funding to other diseases be reduced," she said before a standing-room-only crowd. "What I am suggesting is that blood cancers are a serious and costly health concern and they, too, need our attention and funding."

Ferraro is taking thalidomide to treat her disease, which suppresses the immune system and leads to anemia, infections, nerve failure and bone fractures. She wondered aloud what options will be available when the thalidomide -- which was banned years ago after it was linked to birth defects -- stops working.

"It almost goes without saying that combining investment in research with faster government approval of drugs is a cost-effective way of dealing with the expense of this disease to our health care system," she said.

Ferraro praised at hearing

Senators praised Ferraro, a former Democratic congresswoman who ran for vice president in 1984, for going public with her fight.

"I think what Geraldine Ferraro is doing for the future of the research capabilities is beyond any of our expectations, and I want to thank (her) for coming forward and saying let's do something about this," said Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican from Texas, whose brother has multiple myeloma.

"You're part of an American family, and we're going to pull for you," said Senator Barbara Mikulski, a Maryland Democrat.

Several other cancer survivors and medical experts testified at the hearing, each expressing hope that more funding and research could bring advances in treatment.

"For those of us who have been diagnosed with cancer, time is a precious commodity," said Larry Lucchino, president and CEO of the San Diego Padres baseball team. Lucchino was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in the 1980s and more recently with prostate cancer.

"The time and distance from the scientist's lab bench to the patient's bedside must be shortened."

Cell research explored

Senator Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, pointedly asked several witnesses for their views on cell research using human embryos, which he supports. Doctors say harnessing the power of those cells could lead to treatments -- or even cures -- for a number of diseases.

The Bush administration has ordered a review of guidelines proposed last year allowing federally funded scientists to conduct research on human embryos, under certain conditions.

"If we cannot do experiments to compare embryonic stem cells to adult stem cells, we can't answer questions about what advantages they may have and what we may be missing," said Richard Klausner, director of the National Cancer Institute.

Senator Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, asked about guaranteeing access to clinical trials, an element in the Senate debate over a so-called Patients' Bill of Rights.

"We will not make progress without clinical trials," Klausner said. "It's wrong and unfair to deny patients access to clinical trials."