Supporters of the fight against cancer are closely watching a legislative effort led by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., and others to expand access to groundbreaking cancer screenings. The bill, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, aims to provide Medicare coverage for multicancer early detection tests — a transformative step in the fight against cancer.
Cancer remains a leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming around 600,000 lives each year. One major challenge is that many cancers are only diagnosed once they’ve progressed. The tests, known MCED tests, offer a solution. These simple blood tests can detect multiple cancers early, even before symptoms appear. Over 70% of cancer deaths stem from cancers without any recommended early screening methods, such as pancreatic, liver and stomach cancers. Early detection drastically improves survival rates. When found early, the five-year survival rate for many cancers exceeds 90%.
The proposed legislation focuses on improving access for Medicare beneficiaries, who represent the largest share of cancer patients — most are diagnosed after age 66. These tests could especially benefit underserved communities by complementing traditional screenings and offering a broader, more equitable approach to early detection. The tests help patients avoid more invasive treatments and improve quality of life and outcomes.
The bill already has rare bipartisan support, with nearly 400 co-sponsors and backing from over 550 advocacy organizations nationwide. It has cleared key committees and is ready for passage.
“Access to multicancer early detection technology expands the benefits of screening to a wide range of cancer pathologies,” Kelly, one of the five original co-sponsors of the bill, said in 2023. The sooner this bill becomes law, the sooner families can treat cancer as a manageable illness — not a death sentence.
Beulah Brent, CEO, Sisters Working It Out, Matteson
ICE takes wardrobe cues from other villains
A number of people have asked why heavily armed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents need to wear masks when dealing with unarmed civilians. It is obvious that the “ICE-men,” if we can call them that, are simply following fashion. In recent years many of Chicago’s thugs, robbers and criminals have taken to wearing masks while pursuing their professions. The ICE-men are simply doing what other thugs have already made fashionable.
Michael Raleigh, Lake View
No superhero welcome
The highly anticipated new “Superman” movie opens in theaters Friday. It’s a sobering thought that in today’s America, the Man of Steel would likely face deportation. After all, he is an undocumented “alien” from another planet, no less. Deporting a man who has super strength, is invulnerable and can fly, however, would be quite problematic.
Mike Calcina, Dunning
