President Joe Biden’s cancer moonshot is expanding abroad. On September 21, 2024, Biden announced a collaboration (https://www.politico.com/newsletters/future-pulse/2024/09/25/the-cancer-moonshot-goes-global-00180848) between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan to fight cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific at a summit in Delaware on Saturday. Cervical cancer, caused by human papillomavirus infection, is the fourth most common cancer in people with a cervix globally, killing an estimated 350,000 in 2022, according to the World Health Organization. In the Indo-Pacific, cervical cancer is the third leading cause of death in individuals with a cervix.

ONS Perspective

Preventing cancer before it begins (https://www.ons.org/make-difference/ons-center-advocacy-and-health-policy/health-policy-priorities-and-agenda#:~:text=radiotherapy%2C%20and%20surgery.-,cancer%20prevention,-Oncology%20nurses%20play) is a priority that ONS shares (https://www.ons.org/make-difference/ons-center-advocacy-and-health-policy/health-policy-priorities-and-agenda#:~:text=radiotherapy%2C%20and%20surgery.-,cancer%20prevention,-Oncology%20nurses%20play) with the Cancer Moonshot. Cervical cancer is one of the most common—and deadliest—cancers around the world, but human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is nearly 100% effective (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hpv/hcp/vaccines.html#:~:text=All%20HPV%20vaccines%20have%20been,Pink%20Book%20Chapter%20on%20HPV.) in preventing the virus that causes the disease. Oncology nurses have a global opportunity to advocate for awareness and access to this lifesaving vaccine.

As an active supporter of the Cancer Moonshot since its inception (https://www.ons.org/sites/default/files/ONS_BlueRibbonPanel_RFI_July2016_FINAL.pdf), ONS is a member of the HPV Cancers Alliance (https://hpvca.org/), working to promote HPV vaccination and eliminate cervical and other HPV-related cancers. The Alliance has engaged with White House staff on this issue, and ONS hosted a webinar to highlight the importance of HPV vaccination (https://vimeo.com/992855745) in August 2024. Through these collaborative efforts, ONS and its oncology nurse advocates are advancing cancer prevention and ensuring better health outcomes for all. Learn how you can get involved (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/get-involved-in-onss-health-policy-advocacy).

Additional Articles of Interest

• Affordable Care Act May Increase Access to Colon Cancer Care for Underserved Groups (https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/affordable-care-act-may-increase-access-colon-cancer-care-underserved-groups)
• Alcohol Plays a Key Role in Cancer Risk, New Expert Report Warns (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/alcohol-plays-key-role-in-cancer-risk-new-expert-report-warns)
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Woman Turns Personal Battle Into Advocacy (https://www.southtexasnews.com/the_progress/breast-cancer-awareness-month-beeville-woman-turns-personal-battle-into-advocacy/article_4f2fe230-7bf7-11ef-b677-c74171950c6b.html)
• Congress Approves Funding Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown (https://www.npr.org/2024/09/25/g-s1-24518/stopgap-funding-bill-congress)
• GOP Lawmakers Fear Trump Will Renew War Over Obamacare (https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4895188-trump-avoid-healthcare-reform/)

ONS Resources

• ONS Voice Article: White House Announces Global Funding, Initiatives to Support Cancer Moonshot Goals (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/07-2024/white-house-announces-global-funding-initiatives-to-support-cancer-moonshot-goals)
• ONS Voice Article: Biomarkers for Persistent HPV May Predict Increased Cervical Cancer Risk (https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/07-2024/biomarkers-for-persistent-hpv-may-predict-increased-cervical-cancer-risk)
• Oncology Nursing Podcast Episode 312: Virtual Nursing in Health Care (https://www.ons.org/podcasts/episode-312-virtual-nursing-health-care)