When Pam Miller, 64, got involved with the American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network, ACS CAN, her whole life changed.

Miller was diagnosed with carcinoid cancer, which is categorized by neuroendocrine tumors, in 2000; the tumor began in her bowel and metastasized to her liver. For the past 16 years she has been battling her stage 4 diagnosis. She has undergone various treatments, surgeries and procedures, most of which made her very sick. She was in remission for a brief time, but the cancer returned within six months.

Having battled her condition for so long, Miller experiences a lot of side effects from her medication and also has a hard time getting her treatments of medication covered by insurance.

Last year, at a crossroads in her treatment options, possibly facing an injection treatment costing $12,000 a month, Miller reached out to the ACS CAN. She accidentally reached the lobbying office. Although she was directed to the right office, but the representative was interested in her story and invited Miller to the ACS CAN Research breakfast last November.

“I have been an active volunteer ever since. I have been with them less than a year, but working with the Cancer Society has given me purpose,” Miller said. “Working here fills a void for me. We all have our own battles, but here we come together, we support one another.”

Along with recruiting other volunteers, Miller also promotes petitions, and reaches out to various legislators in the state to see an increase in cancer research funding.

She along with the rest of ACS CAN are inviting members from the community, from medical personnel to survivors, to participate in the organization lobby day next Wednesday, May 11 at the State House.

“It’s important we get a lot of perspectives to show how necessary funding is from every point of view,” Miller said.

The lobbying day is hoping to persuade the state to increase funding for cancer research to make Lil’ Rhody a leader in cancer research” and make funding a priority.

The Lobby Day is also trying to bring awareness to those rare cancers that may not be well known.

Research pertaining to Miller’s rare type of cancer is under-funded, despite taking the lives of well-known celebrities such as Steve Jobs.

“We need more visibility in the public eye,” Miller said. “Not to put any cancer on the backburner, but there are some like breast cancer that everyone knows about that get more funding.”

The ACS CAN is calling for more funding across the board.

Miller said, “We shouldn’t expect people to have to beg for help when they’re fighting for their life. We are proud of what Rhode Island has already done, but we can always do more.”

The American Cancer Society’s Lobby Day at the State House will be on Wednesday, May 11, beginning at 2:30 p.m. and running until 5 p.m. in the Governor’s State Room. For more information or to register for the event visit www.acscan.org/RIDayAtTheStateHouse.

All those who register will attend a “pre-conference training call” to be briefed on the legislative process and how to reach out to representatives.