Clinical trials are an essential part of advancing new cancer treatments and reducing suffering and death from the disease. However, a significant percentage of cancer clinical trials never get off the ground because not enough patients enroll.
Advancements in cancer research are saving more lives than ever. That’s why increasing federal funding for cancer research is one of our top priorities. Without consistent increases in federal research funding, new treatments and tests may not reach cancer patients who need them the most, like Erin Burns from Minnesota.
Last week, nearly 120 advocates, including several ACS CAN volunteers, asked their lawmakers to fund cancer research as part of the 18th annual One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) lobby day. We must keep the momentum going.
The National Cancer Moonshot Summit in Washington, D.C., in June presented a historic opportunity for the top minds in science, medicine, patient advocacy and business to come together and start the serious work of accelerating progress in the fight against cancer.
Today is the start of ACS CAN's signature annual event: our Leadership Summit and Lobby Day. We'll be welcoming more than 750 cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones from all 50 states and nearly every congressional district to Washington, D.C. for three days of training, presentations, media opportunities and, of course, meetings with lawmakers.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month a month dedicated to honoring youth who have battled cancer and highlighting the work that needs to be done to prevent and treat cancer, while improving the quality of life of patients and survivors.
At our One Degree launch event on March 17, we had an impressive lineup cancer survivors, passionate volunteers, celebrity star power and supportive lawmakers to make the case for more federal funding for cancer research.
Tuesday's event to launch the One Degree Project on Capitol Hill was such a success that I'm still in awe today. We had a room full of celebrities, lawmakers, partners from the cancer community and passionate advocates from every state all calling on Congress to increase cancer research funding.
There are few things in life that we all share in common, but we are all just one degree from cancer. Whether it's a parent, grandparent, other relative, friend, co-worker or even you, we all know someone who has faced this disease, and thus we all know just how important cancer research is to the quality of life and survival of our loved ones.
I was saddened to learn late last week that Dr. Harold Varmus will step down as director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the end of the month.