An East Bay congressman, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, has filed the paperwork to create a caucus made up of cancer survivors. Seeing as there are hundreds of caucuses, for a multitude of issues and causes, DeSaulnier felt this was both appropriate and necessary.

As a leukemia survivor himself, DeSaulnier sought to create the caucus to bring attention to the importance of funding for cancer research. Stating that cancer is not a partisan issue, he went about trying to find other cancer survivors in congress. However, DeSaulnier did find that many of the lawmakers that he approached told him they didn't want to get involved because they didn't want the public to know of their diagnosis, or were concerned an opponent may use it against them. 

Despite this, those that have chosen to be involved with the caucus wish to bring attention to the importance of cancer research for not only the study of cures, but also how to manage and keep cancer under control. DeSaulnier says, "mine is incurable, but to me I'm less interested in what the definition is as long as I can get up very day and breathe for the rest of my life expectancy."

For more on the formation of the caucus and what they wish to accomplish, click here.