Oklahoma City Physician Testifies on Capitol Hill; Former Integris Chief of Cardiac Surgery Advocates for Blood Cancer Research 5/15/2003
From: Julie Kimbrough, 212-585-3501 or Sue Bliss, 212-349-2910, ext. 210, both for the Lymphoma Research Foundation NEW YORK, May 15 -- Today, Oklahoma City physician William Hawley, MD testifies on Capitol Hill on behalf of the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Dr. Hawley, a survivor of lymphoma -- the most common blood cancer and the third most common cancer of childhood -- will appear before the U.S. Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to request $25 million in funding for a national blood cancer research initiative. Dr. William Hawley was chief of cardiac surgery and chairman of the department at Integris Medical Center when he was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma seven years ago, a low-grade indolent form of cancer for which there is no cure. Approximately 500,000 Americans are affected by lymphoma -- and each year 61,000 more cases are diagnosed and another 25,000 will lose their lives to this very misunderstood disease. Dr. Hawley will ask the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to expand the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program to include research on lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma and provide $25 million for a blood cancer research effort at the Department of Defense. While the causes of blood cancers remain unknown, evidence suggests that exposure to environmental carcinogens, pesticides, herbicides, viruses, and bacteria may play a role. In Dr. Hawley's testimony he will stress that any of our troops exposed to chemical or biological weapons may be at increased risk of developing lymphoma or another type of blood cancer. The link of Agent Orange to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma is already well established. In addition, Dr. Hawley will highlight how the advances in blood cancer research overall have been and continue to be of great benefit to those with other forms of cancer. A full copy of Dr. Hawley's testimony is available at: http://www.lymphoma.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Hawley Hawley became a patient advocate in 1995 for lymphoma after meeting another patient diagnosed with the same form of the disease. "I've found it very rewarding when you talk to others who face the same deadly disease as you. I have gained great strength, confidence, and acceptance of my disease by meeting others and sharing personal experiences, fears, and hopes for a cure," said Dr. Hawley. Currently, Dr. Hawley volunteers as a patient advocate for the Lymphoma Research Foundation peer support program, the Lymphoma Support Network. The purpose of this program is to provide participants with an opportunity to share their experiences as they relate to lymphoma and offer one another emotional support and encouragement. He also serves on the Board of the Lymphoma Research Foundation and Chairs the Foundation's Education and Support Committee. Dr. Hawley is Chairman of the Board of the James L. Hall Center for Mind, Body and Spirit at Integris Medical Center. The mission of the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) is to eradicate lymphoma and serve those touched by the disease. The Foundation is the nation's largest lymphoma-focused voluntary health organization devoted exclusively to funding research to cure all lymphomas and providing patients and healthcare professionals with critical information on the disease. To date, LRF has funded over $9 million in lymphoma research. People affected by lymphoma can receive free personalized information tailored to their diagnosis, help with finding a clinical trial, and easy-to-understand information on lymphoma, current treatments, and promising research. Please call 800-500-9976, e-mail helpline@lymphoma.org, or visit the Web site http://www.lymphoma.org. |