​'Federal cancer research represents American government at its best—saving lives, driving innovation, and fueling economic growth.'

Ahead of the President’s State of the Union Address, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is calling on the President to emphasize the need for continued bipartisan support for increased federal investment in the fight against cancer, particularly for medical research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), critical cancer prevention programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as continued funding for the Advanced Research Project Agency on Health (ARPA-H). Continued significant investments in medical research and prevention will be essential to achieve the president’s ambitious Cancer Moonshot goal of significantly reducing cancer incidence and deaths in the next 25 years.

“For decades, cancer research funding has enjoyed strong bipartisan support—and with good reason. Federal cancer research represents American government at its best—saving lives, driving innovation, and fueling economic growth,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN.)  

Federal funding for cancer research and prevention programs has played a role in every major advance against this disease for the last half century. Continued robust investments are essential to maximizing the benefits of past research while also working to continue rapidly accelerating future breakthroughs. 

According to American Cancer Society research released in January, overall cancer mortality continues to decline with a 33% drop since 1991, averting an estimated 3.8 million cancer deaths.  

“We are making incredible strides against the 200 diseases that we call cancer. These numbers are proof that when we prioritize cancer policies like continued investments in cancer research and ensuring access to cancer screenings and treatments, we save lives,” said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society and ACS CAN. “But this progress and future progress is at risk if we let up on our commitment to pass policies proven to reduce suffering and death from cancer.” 

ACS CAN is calling on the federal government to prioritize the full cancer continuum, from diagnosis through survivorship by, in addition to increasing funding critical cancer research and prioritizing funding for critical cancer prevention programs at CDC, promoting access to innovation by creating a pathway to coverage within Medicare for multi-cancer early detection screenings once they are FDA-approved and clinical benefit is shown. Congress must also improve pain and symptom management by supporting legislation to improve patient quality of life and address health disparities by ensuring diversity in clinical trials and removing barriers to prostate cancer screenings and treatments, a disease that disproportionately impacts Black males.

On behalf of families impacted by cancer, ACS CAN calls on President Biden to affirm his commitment once more to the Cancer Moonshot and to urge Congress to work together to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.

ACS CAN published an advertorial directed to members of Congress in Politico with visibility to three million readers – with the stance, cancer is a nonpartisan issue and cancer research funding must be prioritized and increased. The advertorial was published on Feb. 6 and will run through March 6.  

To view the full press release, visit ACS CAN’s website.