Congressman Raul Ruiz and cancer advocates bring awareness to Clinical Trial Modernization Act

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Congressman Raul Ruiz and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Hosted a press conference in El Centro to bring awareness to the Clinical Trial Modernization Act and highlight the importance of reducing barriers for clinical trials.

The Clinical Trial Modernization Act would improve diversity and participation in clinical trials. Specifically, this bill would allow HHS to issue grants or enter contractual arrangements to support education.

“I am truly blessed to be standing here today. I am proud to say I am cancer free," said  Sylvia Marroquin, mayor of El Centro.

Those were the words from the mayor of El Centro who shared her story as a cancer survivor.

“After accessing my condition Dr. Mccabe determined that I would be a good candidate for her clinical trial and it would be the best chance in fighting the cancer," said Sylvia Marroquin.

Mayor Sylvia Marroquin says she wasn't familiar with clinical trials... But knew she had to give it a shot.

I did not know anyone who had participated in a trial before but I did not hesitate to participate...throughout my trial my oncologist could not believe the dramatic response I had to the treatment,"said  Sylvia Marroquin.

Congressman Raul Ruiz says this act will help communities with low resources like imperial county participate in clinical trials.

“It will help in two very big ways one it will built confidence that the people that will use the medication are reflected on the people who have been studied during the clinical trials and two it will increase access to the cutting edge innovative medication that often times are the last recourse for late stage cancer and can have life saving effects," said Congressman Raul Ruiz.

The mayor says the cancer got to her liver and lungs, but with the help of her family and the clinical trials she is now able to tell her story.

“If I had been diagnosed 10 to 12 year ago I might not be here to tell my story... advances to cancer treatment because of research and participation in clinical trials have made it possible to treat patients such as myself and prolong lives by curing and managing cancer," said said  Sylvia Marroquin.

Congressman Ruiz introduced the bipartisan bill along representative republican doctor vern buchanan.

He says together they will work to bring the bill to the proper house committees to hopefully get it passed.

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