For cancer patients and their families, there is no doubt that advancements in cancer research have had a dramatic impact in saving lives over the last forty years. Thanks to federal dollars funding research through the National Institutes of Health, cancer research centers all over the country have made huge strides in finding new treatment and screening options for all cancers, while at the same time impacting local economies. What could be better than saving lives and creating jobs?
Yet, that progress could be in jeopardy if budget debates in Congress lead to significant cuts to cancer research. Lorraine Egan of Massachusetts made that case in a recent Boston Globe editorial piece. She states, It is imperative that the NIH budget be sustained. It is important for our economy, important for keeping our scientists in their research laboratories, and important for the health of us all. And we couldnÈt agree more. Read the full editorial.
After months of delay and hard negotiations, Congress has finally passed a funding bill! The bill includes a small increase for cancer research and prevention programs.