In 1993, health care reform issues reached national debate. To contribute to this debate and to develop a consensus on health care policies as viewed from the cancer patient's perspective, NCCS, under the leadership of Ellen Stovall, founded the Cancer Leadership Council (CLC).

The Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) is a forum for discussion and advocacy on issues related to cancer health policy from the patient/survivor perspective. Since 1993, the CLC has grown from eight cancer patient organizations to 33 groups as additional cancer patient organizations, professional societies and research organizations have joined the CLC's collective policy and advocacy efforts.

The CLC is engaged in a wide range of issues, but they relate to a fundamental goal of ensuring cancer patients access to high quality care. Issues of ongoing concern to CLC members include:

• Implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit;
• Adequate funding for biomedical research;
• Development of appropriate systems of care for cancer survivors;
• Initiatives to enhance the quality of cancer care;
• Insurance coverage of off-label uses of cancer drugs; and
• Improvements in the process for approval of new anti-cancer therapies.

List of Partners

American Cancer Society

American Psychosocial Oncology Society

American Society of Clinical Oncology

American Society for Radiation Oncology

The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network

Breast Cancer Network for Strength

Cancer Care

The Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy

C-3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition

Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups

College of American Pathologists

Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials

International Myeloma Foundation

Kidney Cancer Association

Lance Armstrong Foundation

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Lymphoma Research Foundation

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

National Breast Cancer Coalition

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

National Comprehensive Cancer Network

National Lung Cancer Partnership

National Patient Advocate Foundation

North American Brain Tumor Coalition

Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Prevent Cancer Foundation

Sarcoma Foundation of America

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance

US TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network

Cancer Support Community