Sen. Gordon Joins American Cancer Society Action Network, CBIA For Bipartisan Forum to Improve CT’s Health

View the informational forum here.

State Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock), member of the Public Health Committee and practicing oncologist of 30 years, yesterday co-hosted a legislative informational forum at the State Capitol titled ‘Bioscience Diagnostic Tools and Improving Health in Connecticut’. The forum was offered to legislators to educate them on patient access to biomarker testing, including genomic sequencing for critically ill children. The forum was organized by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA). State Sen. Saud Anwar (D-3), who is also a practicing physician in the legislature, joined Senator Gordon as the forum’s co-host.

This legislative session, measures were introduced on several diagnostic bioscience tools to improve the health of patients in the medical system through access to biomarker testing and other genomic tools.

Senator Gordon said, “I utilize this technology every day as a practicing oncologist, and it is changing the face of cancer care. At one time, this technology would be considered science fiction, but today it is reality. We can look at not only a person’s genes, but also at the biologic makeup of the cancer itself to treat it with a highly specialized drug that is now available. This science goes hand-in-hand with individualized patient care.

“This advancement is life-changing for those diagnosed with cancer. Therefore, we must be mindful of how accessible this modern treatment is for patients. I’m proud to be leading the effort to make certain that it is accessible to all patients across Connecticut through the legislation before us.”