Cancer has always been a part of my life; I’ve seen both friends and family affected by diagnoses and treatments, and I understand firsthand the toll that the process takes on both patients and their loved ones. Cancer is an ever-present threat worldwide, and the only way we will truly be able to help those who suffer from the disease and its wide impacts is through research.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pervade all aspects of our society, we must remember to look more closely at the disruptions caused in cancer research and clinical trials.
As a result of the pandemic, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) may lose close to $10 billion worth of currently funded research, severely affecting the lives of cancer patients and the public health of our communities for years to come.
Cancer research must remain a priority: one in two men and one in every three women in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society estimate that this year in Massachusetts alone, approximately 37,000 new cases will be diagnosed, and cancer will kill 13,000 state residents.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) aims to reignite cancer research that has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to work towards a cure. ACS CAN will be hosting a virtual event on October 26 to convene leaders from business, government, health care and life sciences to learn about current challenges and actions we can take to continue to work toward saving more lives from cancer.
To join ACS CAN’s virtual Research Breakfast and learn more about the current impact on cancer research and clinical trials, visit fightcancer.org/reignitingresearch to register today.
Erin Courville, Williamstown