Cancer Community Rallies for Research

WEST HARRISON, NY – Aug. 23, 2017 – The local cancer community – researchers, patients, advocates, community leaders, friends and family – gathered today at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in West Harrison, NY, to call on Congress to reject any cuts to federal cancer research funding and support an increased budget for this lifesaving work. The event, organized by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) brought together dozens of volunteers to send the message that federal funding for cancer research should be a national priority.

Earlier this year, the White House budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018 included a $7.2 billion cut for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a $1.2 billion cut for cancer research funded at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). ACS CAN advocates call on Congress to reject those cuts and instead increase funding at the NIH by $2 billion.

Among those participating in the research rally were Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Dr. Chau Dang, from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

"I joined my fellow advocates in rallying for the more than 1.7 million people in America who are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year, and who are depending on research to treat their disease and hopefully save their lives,” said ACS CAN Volunteer Marcia Earle.  “Together with my friends and family, I call on Congress to increase funding for cancer research and bring us one step closer to bringing an end to this disease.”

There are more than 15 million cancer survivors in America today. Each of them is benefiting from groundbreaking scientific discoveries in the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer.

Federal funding for cancer research and prevention programs has had a role in every major advance against this disease, resulting in 500 more lives saved from the disease per day than in 1991. Past federal investments have also put the scientific community on the verge of making groundbreaking new discoveries that could accelerate our progress and bring us closer to ending death and suffering from cancer.

From now through the Fall, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will be working on their respective budget bills. To ensure that the cancer voice is heard during this process, patients, survivors and volunteers across the country will be participating in rallies, signing petitions and reaching out directly to their lawmakers.