Cancer patient screening | Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
Part XI of the “United States 2024 Election
This journalist has mentioned many times the “Cancer Moonshot” that then-Vice President Joe Biden launched during the Obama Administration.
The President and First Lady reignited on February 2, 2022, the “Biden Cancer Moonshot” to mobilize a national effort to end cancer as people know it.
Five days later, this column came out on February 7, 2022, with Joe Biden Can Go Bolder and Do the “Medical Moonshots.
Then, on February 13, 2022, this writer wrote: “More Back-to-Basics Data about Manila’s U.S. ‘MedCenter’ in the 1900s.”
The article mentioned the “Cancer Moonshot” in this paragraph, which was highlighted as a blurb. The column said, “If President Biden et al. chose to copy a bolder initiative of the McKinley-Taft vision, they could change the world. Not overnight, but in some 25 years (as Mr. Biden stated for his proposal, ‘Cancer Moonshot’).”
To paraphrase President Biden, (he is) “building a world where the word ‘cancer’ loses its power, a diagnosis isn’t a death sentence, we prevent cancer before it starts, we catch cancer early so people live longer and healthier lives, and patients and families don’t have to navigate their cancer journey alone.
“Cancer touches every American in some way, and is still the second leading cause of death in America despite the progress we’ve made in recent decades. By bringing together the federal government, health care providers, researchers, patients, caregivers, advocates, and the public and private sectors, the Cancer Moonshot is dramatically accelerating progress in the fight against cancer.”
The White House announced that the Cancer Moonshot is mobilizing efforts toward achieving two clear goals that the President and First Lady set: To prevent more than four million cancer deaths by 2047 and to improve the experience of people who are touched by cancer.
This column wanted to create a spark to rally the nearly one million American medical professionals of Filipino descent to support the “Cancer Moonshot.”
So, this columnist made a follow-up article on November 13, 2022: President Biden Can Launch a Socioeconomic Version of the “Cancer Moonshot.”
“Perhaps now that it is an election year, President Biden’s campaign team can take note that many minority families have voters, too. And more and more American families have had at least one relative by blood or affinity that has, or had, cancer. “
And more on June 18, 2023, with Oakland Can Be Launching Pad of a New “Mecca of Medicine” Moonshot.
On January 22, 2023, A Conceptual Framework of Approach for a Bipartisan “Medicare for All” and Universal Healthcare.
Another article was done on February 22, 2023, “IBOD Doctrine” and a “Medical Moonshot.
Contrary to the accusations by President Biden’s political opponents that the “Cancer Moonshot” is nothing but a “praise (sic) release,” there is actually much progress that had not been well-publicized.
The White House says, “The Cancer Moonshot has spurred tremendous action across the federal government and from the public and private sectors, building a strong foundation for the work ahead. To date, the Cancer Moonshot has announced roughly 50 new programs, policies, and resources to address five priority actions. More than 100 private companies, non-profits, academic institutions, and patient groups have also stepped up with new actions and collaborations.”
But the idea of harnessing the potential help of Filipino-American (Fil-Am) medical professionals — significantly the estimated 600,000 or more Filipino nurses recruited to work in American hospitals since the 1960s (and counting) — has not merited the attention of the White House Press Office. In fact, not even a minor functionary from the White House has contacted this author’s group of Filipino writers based in the United States to ask for details on how the Fil-Am medical professionals and their families can help more in promoting the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative of President Biden and the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden.
Right now, more and more young professionals are being victimized by cancer. Some of the people living with cancer are Filipino Americans. Their sicknesses have hit home that hard in some cases.
Perhaps now that it is an election year, President Biden’s campaign team can take note that many minority families have voters, too. And more and more American families have had at least one relative by blood or affinity that has, or had, cancer. Or have a kin or in-law battling cancer at present.
