Edwards Offers Cancer Plan

Jack Edwards, 6, son of Democratic presidential hopeful former Sen. John Edwards and wife Elizabeth, rubs his nose as the family greets people at the City Hall Plaza in Manchester, N.H., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter) (Cheryl Senter - AP)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Democrat John Edwards said Sunday he is offering a strategy for dealing with cancer that would bolster research funding, create support networks for people dealing with the disease and encourage lifestyle changes to help keep others from getting it.

Edwards said his wife's battle with breast cancer has driven home the need to make combatting the disease a top priority for the next president.

"It's clear to me that this is a huge priority," Edwards said in a telephone interview. "That has had a huge influence on my thinking."

Edwards plans to spell out his proposals during a forum Monday sponsored by Olympic bicycling champion Lance Armstrong, himself a cancer survivor. Some details of the package were provided to The Associated Press, and Edwards discussed them in the interview, saying it would mark a new focus on battling cancer.

"I'm going to propose a national strategy for cancer survivorship," said Edwards. "It's a new way of thinking about cancer."

He said five-year cancer survivorship now stands at 66 percent, a 50 percent increase over 30 years ago. That's progress, but more needs to be made, he said.

Under the package being outlined by Edwards, he would:

_Push for a substantial increase in funding for cancer research conducted by the National Institutes for Health. He put no specific figure on the increase, but said only two of 10 research projects now get funded by the federal agency.

_Expand testing and reporting of chemicals that may increase cancer risks, as well as monitoring where they may exist.

_Launch a national research program to identify environmental risks, as well as promoting lifestyle changes that could reduce risk. Those include smoking cessation, improving diets at schools and bolstering exercise to combat obesity.

_Increase support for respite care, including home visits from nurses and other health professionals to give caregivers a break. He also calls for an Internet clearinghouse for information about services that are available for families dealing with the disease.

"Enormous burdens are placed on ordinary Americans who provide full-time care for loved ones with debilitating conditions," said Edwards.