Editor, Thehenryettan.com
Thanks to the work of the thousands of cancer patients and their families who supported the #OneDegree campaign, we now have a victory to celebrate! Congress heard our stories of hope and of loss. They understood why we need a renewed commitment to fighting a disease that continues to kill one person for every minute of every day.
In response, cancer research was just given the largest funding boost in more than a decade.
As part of the end of the year budget process that Congress recently completed, the National Institutes of Health received a $2 billion increase for medical research and the National Cancer Institute received a $264 million increase for cancer research. The funds will not only restore much needed resources in the fight against cancer, but they will support breakthroughs happening at cancer centers right here at home.
I want to thank Congressman Tom Cole and Congress for making cancer a national priority. This victory is a first step to restoring funding after years of decreases and stagnation. More importantly, it offers hope to the millions of people who face cancer—hope for better treatments, for more opportunities to prevent and detect the disease early and for improved quality of life for those already diagnosed.
Michelle Brown
Henryetta OK
Volunteer,
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)