Media Advisory - Annual Report Card on Cancer in Canada(TM) Shows Canadians
Still Waiting for Access to Innovative Care

TORONTO, March 18 /CNW/ -

    
    WHAT:  Media are invited to join the Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada
           (CACC) for the release of the 2009-2010 Report Card on Cancer in
           Canada(TM) and presentation of key findings:

           -  Does private insurance protect Canadians from the cost of
              cancer drugs?

              The majority of Canadians are diagnosed with cancer after the
              age of retirement, at a time when many are no longer covered by
              employer insurance plans and are left without adequate
              protection against the rising costs of cancer care

           -  The Current Status of Bans on Smoking in Vehicles Carrying
              Children

              Despite overwhelming evidence and public support for
              legislation to ban smoking in cars carrying children, some
              Canadian provinces and territories have failed to take action,
              leaving children vulnerable to preventable disease

           -  The 21-Gene Assay: Impact on breast cancer in Canada. The
              Ethics and Economics of Inaction.

              Canada continues to be a global leader in cancer research and
              innovation, yet our citizens wait for access to these advances
              while other countries move forward with improvements in
              diagnostics and treatment

    WHERE:    Royal York Hotel, 100 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario
              British Columbia Room, Main Mezzanine Level

    WHEN:     Wednesday, March 24, 2010

              9:45 a.m.  - Media sign-in
              10:00 a.m. - News conference begins
              11:00 a.m. - News conference ends, one-on-one interviews
                           available

              The full Report Card and all related materials will be on the
              CACC website by 10:00 a.m. the morning of the news conference
              at www.canceradvocacy.ca.

    WHO:      Dr. David Saltman, MD, PhD, FRCP, Board Member, CACC
              (Newfoundland)

              Dr. Joseph Ragaz, MD, FRCP, Board Member, CACC (British
              Columbia)

              Chris Bonnett, President, H3 Consulting

              Dr. James Gowing, hematologist oncologist, Chair, CACC
              (Ontario)

              Dr. Pierre Major, MD, Vice-Chair, CACC (Ontario)
    

For further information: to RSVP, or to arrange an interview, please contact: Alia Hassan, Stephanie Yack, [phone] ext. 4055, 4043, [email protected], [email protected]