By: Brent Crawford

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is hosting cancer awareness day in our nation’s Capitol on September 10, 2013 with an evening filled with dinner, dancing, celebration and lights of hope.  One of the most anticipated women of power to hit The Hill for the occasion is Jamie Lober, 28 of Boca Raton.  “She is a beautiful girl inside and out and is doing things for the right reasons,” said Beth Pillar, 72 of Boynton Beach.  “Lober is outspoken yet reserved so the fact that she has been so open with her personal story and reasons for involvement has humanized her and surged her popularity,” said William Medford, 56 of Delray Beach.

Lober may be perceived as Miss Florida in the sense that she is a key player on all things healthcare and one of the most visible faces and loudest voices for the cause.  She works in health communications as President of Talk Health with Jamie, Inc. and considers herself blessed to be the Public Relations Chairman for the American Cancer Society – South Palm Beach Chapter.  “Talking about healthy lifestyle and improving health outcomes is not just a job; it is a way of life,” said Lober.  One of the main goals of national cancer awareness day is to encourage folks to take action to improve the quality of life for patients with cancer, ask lawmakers to support funding for cancer research, support a new proposal to increase the federal tobacco tax, not cut funding for women’s health programs like mammograms and Pap smears and increase funding for lifesaving colon cancer prevention programs.  The other aspect is honoring and remembering those who have been in the fight.  “I purchased a light to remember my grandma who was an incredible person that was lost too soon,” said Lober.

Lober explained that the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network wants to restore cuts to cancer research that were made through the budget sequestration.  “It is especially important that we protect the researchers at the National Institutes of Health and keep them well-funded because they are responsible for amazing breakthroughs and patients must continue to have access to these lifesaving clinical trials,” said Lober.  She also reinforces that there is evidence that raising the taxes on nicotine products will save lives.  “It is indisputable and considering that tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in America I do not even know why the issue is in a debate,” said Lober.

While she is used to talking about health topics A-Z, Lober clings to her belief that quitting smoking is the number one thing you can do for your health.  “The American Cancer Society talks about the 5 D’s which are delaying the craving so it passes, taking a deep breath, drinking water to flush out the chemicals, doing something else or discussing your feelings and thoughts as ways of quitting,” said Lober.  For national cancer awareness day, she stresses that people can help to get laws passed in order to defeat cancer.  “People are often unaware that the federal government is the nation’s largest funder of cancer research and the reason insurance companies are covering cancer screenings is because the American Cancer Society helped get laws passed requiring them to do so,” said Lober.

Since the American Cancer Society is turning 100, it is a special year.  It is a time that the organization reflects on progress.  “We now talk about smoke-free communities because our advocacy efforts are working but to find more cures and prevent devastating disease, people need to realize that cancer is a public policy issue as well as a medical issue and they need to raise their voices accordingly,” said Lober.  Stating that her supportive parents and handful of friends that have been there for her for most of her adult life give her the backbone to take the national stage, Lober makes light of the upcoming appearance and concludes by affirming that everyone can make a difference.  “My grandpa taught me that a smart girl knows there is no limit to what she can do and that is how it is, there are no limits; you can just start locally and see where it takes you,” said Lober.