In my most humble opinion among the most vital and impactful program in the world, which supports prostate cancer research funding and prostate cancer research resources, is in trouble. It is the only government program that funds only prostate cancer research. All of its research funding mechanisms are designed to fund high risk and potentially high return research, research that makes a major impact on out lives.

Shockingly, some members of the United States Senate have decided to take aim at our program. They are threatening to make major financial cuts, cuts that will affect your survival and your quality of life.

The PCRP has been, year after year, the leader in the development of our newest treatments. The next drug that will extend your life or the life of your loved one is being threatened. Don’t let this happen. We need this program intact.

The Senate is preparing to cut $16 million (20% of our budget) from our PCRP budget. Each year we ask for a budget increase and breath a sigh of relief when we are maintained at $80 million dollars (which is ½ of what is received for the DOD Breast Cancer Program). Now, they want to cut our budget. Now they want to cut short our life and fail to protect our quality of life.

This is not acceptable. We need to immediately let our Senate members known that cutting the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program is unacceptable. You, your partner, your children and your friends need to immediately make contact with your senators and demand that they stand firm and make sure that our budget is not cut.

The sad thing is that the House of Representatives which is usually the more aggressive budget cutting part of the legislature has already passed a resolution to continue the DOD PCRP’s budget for the fiscal year 2015 at the $80 million level.

The U.S. Senate is prepared to cut $16 million in critical research dollars – 20 percent of Prostate Cancer Research Program funding – from the 2015 federal budget.

The Department of Defense (DOD) plays a key role in the war on cancer, and the Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) within the DOD has helped save countless lives by funding the discovery of three new and powerful prostate cancer treatments in the last three years.

Now is the time when we all must act. Each of us needs to make contact with your senators and press them to support the full funding for fiscal year 2014 of $80 million for the Prostate Cancer Research Program in the Department of Defense.

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR SENATOR:

 

http://www.senate.gov/reference/common/faq/How_to_contact_senators.htm

 

Joel T. Nowak, M.A., M.S.W.

 

Disclosure: I am a proud consultant to the DOD PCRP