LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – Cost and accessibility are two factors that prevent people from going to the doctor regularly. It may also delay receiving important medical examinations, such as those for cancer.
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 30,000 new cases in Kentucky this year.
“You have cancer” are words no one wants to hear, but statistics show that one in three people in the United States will develop cancer.
A Louisville woman joined hundreds of others in Washington, D.C., this month to urge Congress to make cancer research and prevention a top priority.
“In 2013, when I was a sophomore in college, my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,” Remy Kennedy said.
Dale Kennedy was diagnosed with cancer and given only a year to live. Within weeks, his family’s life changed rapidly.
“It’s been five weeks of hell for our family,” Kennedy said. “He was so talkative that we were able to laugh and open up. He was soon dead on the bed and hospice was there.”
Ten years later, Kennedy continues to share his father’s story as part of his advocacy.
On September 17, she joined hundreds of cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones in Washington, D.C., to discuss cancer legislation with members of Congress.
“Even though I’m meeting with people who don’t agree with their views or what they’ve been pushing before, there’s usually a moment where they say we need this and I’ve voted for it, but It doesn’t matter what side of the aisle they are on,” she said.
Remy said he has received overall support from some Kentucky policymakers. Certain language in the bill was ultimately the reason for its veto. But she said she would return next year to claim the memory of her father and thousands of others like him.
One bill they have advocated for is the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, which would allow Medicare to cover new and innovative screening tests. Introduced in 2023.
Tests are not currently covered by insurance and must be partially or fully paid out-of-pocket.
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