Texas Physicians
Support Porposition 15
Bond initiative to fund cancer
and prevention programs in Texas
Texas physicians are rallying around an important bond
initiative that will help Texas
to become a leader in the fight against cancer.
Legislators gave voters the opportunity to make Texas the leading center for cancer research in the nation by putting Proposition 15 on the ballot.
If passed on Nov. 6, Proposition 15 would authorize the state to invest $3 billion in bonds over 10 years to pay for research on ways to prevent cancer and find a cure. Of that money, $300 million will be spent on cancer prevention and education.
“This cancer research package is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help save the lives of thousands of Texans and to expand the work of our state’s outstanding medical research institutions. It also provides our frontline physicians with clinical prevention measures to improve patient care,” said William W. Hinchey, MD, president of the Texas Medical Association. “The physicians of Texas strongly support Proposition 15 to help find a cure for and treat cancer.”
In addition to medical research, these funds will strengthen important cancer prevention, early detection and control programs funded by the Texas Cancer Council. Some of these strategies will increase the availability of effective cancer prevention materials and programs; increase awareness of and access to cancer prevention services and promote programs aimed at reducing tobacco use and cancer risks related to obesity.
Sens. Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville) and Kirk Watson (D-Austin) sponsored the legislation in the Senate and Reps. Jim Keffer (R-Eastland), Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs), Dianne Delisi (R-Temple), Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria) and Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) sponsored it in the House.
The coalition supporting Proposi-tion 15 includes the Texas Medical Association, the Bexar County Medical Society, American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, KillCancer.org and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Cancer costs Texans approximately $30 billion a year in direct and indirect costs. This year alone, more than 95,000 Texans will be diagnosed with cancer and nearly 37,000 Texans will lose their lives to the disease.
This report was released by the Texas Medical Association.
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