Check candidates' commitment to fight cancer

Many important decisions about cancer are made not just in the doctor's office, but also in Congress and the White House. Government officials make decisions every day about health issues that affect your life.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is helping to make the fight against cancer a national priority.

As volunteers, we take advantage of the opportunity offered by elections to raise the profile of cancer issues and educate candidates and the public. This enables us to better serve families in the fight against this disease.

We sent questionnaires to Congressman Brad Schneider and Robert Dold, asking about their positions on the importance of increasing cancer research and programs, increasing the price of tobacco to help people quit tobacco use and prevent kids from starting the deadly habit, strongly implementing the new health care law, improving the quality of life for cancer patients and funding proven prevention programs - all issues critical to cancer patients and their families.

I urge you to log on to www.cancervotes.org to find out how they responded. And if you don't see a candidate's response, help us urge them to go on the record with their positions on important cancer issues.

Candidate responses will help educate both candidates and the public about the importance of making cancer a national priority. Just as importantly, they will enable us to hold the winner, whoever that is, accountable for their commitments to fight cancer.

Maggie Powell

Waukegan