Funding the Future: New York Cancer Advocates Head to Capitol Hill

On Tuesday, September 16th, nearly 30 medical professionals and cancer survivors from New York traveled to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to send a clear message to Congress – fund cancer research.

They were a part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network which brought together 750 people from across the country to meet with their state’s elected officials and for a rally outside of the Capitol Building.

The advocates said this is to remind lawmakers of the importance of protecting critical funding to cancer research and early detection.

For the last 30 years, funding to innovative cancer research has received bipartisan support in Congress. Now, in the face of drastic budget cuts, staff eliminations, and policy shifts under the Trump administration, funding to the three main organizations that support cancer research – the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), could be in jeopardy.

Diane Nathaniel, a Stage III colorectal cancer survivor from Brooklyn, gives full credit to the research funding that provided an early diagnosis of her cancer for why she is alive today.

“ We would save money if people could get the screenings to prevent the diagnosis. Without the funding, people won’t be able to get the screening and prevention services,” said Nathaniel. “ The cost will rise because now we’re treating a disease versus helping someone get the screening, find out early enough so that their lives can be saved.”

In addition, the cuts to Medicaid as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have left many hospitals scrambling on how they will prioritize care for cancer patients. While most insurance plans cover the baseline of hospital care and chemotherapy, many people diagnosed with cancer find more success in less invasive practices. Nathaniel noted how the type of cancer she had is now able to be treated with pills. If the funding for research goes away, she worries those in the future will not be so lucky.

As an oncology nurse, Valerie Burger of Belmore has seen first hand how patients who can’t afford insurance are left behind in receiving cutting edge cancer treatment that can save their lives.

”We need to make sure that everyone everywhere has access to care and is able to have the same chance to beat cancer that someone in a big city does,” said Burger.

Last month, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to cancel nearly $800 Million in NIH grants to cancer research institutions around the country.  The Trump Administration said the grants that were cut were those relating to “LGBT+ health, gender identity and DEI in the biomedical workforce.” Still, Burger and Nathaniel are not interested in appealing to party politics, but rather common humanity.

“ Cancer does not travel along party lines, and so honestly, it’s irrelevant,” said Burger.  “Those researchers need to be funded, so our children have a brighter future and our grandchildren are looking at a world that possibly ends cancer as we know it.”

Image: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network New York volunteers during visit to Congresswoman Clarke’s office on Capitol Hill (Credit: Whitney Bright)