Find the Cure – Research Makes It Possible!

The desperation seen on the faces of the patients and their loved ones is one that screams for action. The look says it all. Please tell me that you can save me. Please do something to make my loved one get better. Please take away the pain.

These are the reasons why advocates headed to the Capitol to meet with their state and local leaders to ask for funding of the National Institute of Health (NIH). The advocates included patients, caregivers, research scientists and doctors sharing their stories and expressing the need for a robust and sustained funding for the NIH.

The request is for 2.5 billion dollars.

The Rally for Medical Research meeting included a review of the progress made in cancer. There has been significant strides from 1971 where the recorded number of survivors was 3 million. Due to the research over the years, there are now 16.9 million survivors recorded in 2019. The FDA approved 17 new anti-cancer therapeutics that are effectively treating patients who have been diagnosed with various kinds of cancer. In addition, 10 previously approved anti-cancer therapeutics to treat new kinds of cancer all happened between August 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019.

While there are significant progresses in treating cancer patients, the disparities are still outstanding. Non Hispanic black men with prostate cancer has a mortality rate that has more than doubled that of any other racial or ethnic group. Taking a look within the rural areas in comparison to urban areas, women with ductal carcinoma in situ are 29% less likely to receive radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery.

While listening to the stories that were shared during the meetings on the Hill, a pediatric doctor spoke of a child who came from Oklahoma to New York for a clinical trial treatment that was only possible due to the funding from the NIH. The child is responding well to the treatment which one can only imagine brings hope to the family. Needless to say, the clinical trial treatment will most likely be added to the new methods of treatment – saving or extending other lives.

Another story was shared by a couple who came in from Canada to give thanks and encourage our leaders to fund the NIH as they too have benefited from the prehab and rehab programs. Christine Cosby was diagnosed with breast cancer and had quite a difficult time with the side effects of her treatment. Christine’s husband also shared how beneficial the services were and the need for others to have access to these kinds of discoveries. He was quite emotional as he expressed his gratitude. The couple remains optimistic as they have both benefited emotionally, mentally and physically from the program.

The stories are many and they are all compelling. The call is simply to ask for funding to help the researchers to find the cure. Here’s your chance to call your local and state representative to fund the NIH. The research funding may be the one that saves your loved one or even your own life. Find Your Representative