WASHINGTON - Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) pointed to an American Cancer Society report on rising U.S. cancer deaths as further evidence of the need to support the data collection efforts of the American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control, the National Cancer Institute, the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, state health departments, and others in their continual quest to improve the quality of cancer research and care. 

The Congressman has called on the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow the cancer community fair and adequate access to cancer data from patients of veterans hospitals.  Such information is crucial to our country’s continued fight against cancer.  

“The information released this week by the American Cancer Society regarding U.S. cancer deaths is extremely valuable in helping federal and state governments determine where resources should be allocated to fight cancer. It is crucial that the cancer community have access to this data so that their reports are as accurate as possible.” Higgins said.

After learning that an August 2007 Department of Veterans Affairs directive severely restricted the ability of the cancer community to collect cancer data from veterans hospitals, Congressman Higgins became concerned about the negative impact this data being withheld would have on cancer research. Under state law, hospitals are required to submit the incidence of cancer among their patient population.  However, no such requirement exists for Veterans Affairs hospitals.  The Congressman contacted Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake asking that the VA find a way for this crucial data needed by the cancer community be released as soon as possible.