Scientists: Cuts Hurt Cancer Research

(CBS)  For eight months, Joni Grandin, who never smoked, has been receiving an experimental treatment for advanced lung cancer, thanks to a federally funded clinical trial at the University of North Carolina, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric reports.

"I think it was a lifesaver for me," Grandin says. "I would say there's probably a good chance I wouldn't be sitting here with you right now if it weren't for that."

But budget cuts are threatening the future of new clinical trials that might save more lives.

"We are pulling the rug out from the world's best infrastructure for cancer research and for all biomedical research. It doesn't make any sense to me," says Dr. Shelton Earp of UNC's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Funding for the National Cancer Institute had been going up steadily for a decade, but now President Bush wants to cut the funding for the second year in a row — this time by $40 million.

The newest cancer research may be especially threatened by these cuts. Money has always been tight. Even back in 2002, when the budget was growing, the government approved only one in five promising proposals for new research. Now only one in 10 is funded.

It's not only the research, but the researchers themselves that are affected. Some worry these cuts will have chilling effect on recruiting up-and-coming scientists.

"We're at jeopardy of losing a whole generation of scientists, of cancer researchers, and that's undoubtedly going to have an effect 10 years down the line," adds Dr. Ben Ho Park of Johns Hopkins' Kimmel Cancer Center.

Park, 40, is doing promising breast cancer research, but he's seen his lab budget cut by almost 30 percent. He's worried that without funding, science won't move forward — and the number of cancer deaths could rise again.

"Right now it's a shame because we're really poised with our knowledge base of cancer to make really great inroads into this disease, as far as therapy and treatment," he says.

Inroads that Grandin feels are given her the best chance to battle her lung disease.

"I'm fighting this," Grandin says. "I'm not going to go down not fighting and, at this point, it's working for me."

Whether other patients will have the same opportunities for new therapies in the future is what doctors are worried about today.

[pataifd]

Used to like king George, his actions have been changing my mind, The issue in the US for years has been health care, what is he thinking, another cut of 40 million?? whats up with that? doesn't the war cost like a billion a day? Maybe he should take a drive to Houston, and visit MD Anderson, just to see with his own eyes, the tragic lives of cancer patients, adults and the innocent children. Pat T.

[mrassekh]

Sorry, people of the world, The Decider has decided and you're all out of luck. We've got governments to topple and people to kill; no time for this namby-pamby health stuff.

[randalds]

You would think that after 50+ years, Trillions or dollars, that they would be a lot closer to cures than they are. Of course, doctors don't want to cure anything, if its cured, the revenues will stop!!!
Posted by mjv2944 at 07:53 AM : Jan 26, 2007

The problem is that there is not a cancer, but many different ones. It's like why it's so hard to cure the common cold when the reason is that there are actually more then 200 cold viruses out there and we become immune to one as soon as we catch it. We never get the same cold twice, just different ones. We'd have to come up with 200 separate inoculations or medications.

[gunownerdan]

Chemo and radiation therapy are huge money-makers for the drug industry. Any new cure for cancer will reduce profits and they can't have that!

[randalds]

This has been the most anti-science administration in several generations. They spend trillions of dollars killing other people and a pittance trying to help or save people through research. This is the main problem with a "faith-based" administration led by a mental midget who actually said that "the jury is still out" on evolution. I think he looks at the budget and whatever doesn't blow up or he doesn't understand, he cuts. Maybe he thinks he can just pray them healthy, but the truth is more likely that he just doesn't care.

[mjv2944]

You would think that after 50+ years, Trillions or dollars, that they would be a lot closer to cures than they are. Of course, doctors don't want to cure anything, if its cured, the revenues will stop!!!

[migrainegram]

CBS

This story should remain at the top of the page and examined with more intensity.

Don't you find it odd that King George cut this funding and requested $10.6B for the war on the same day? Now we'll have American casualties on both sides of the Atlantic.

Thank you King George and Prince Richard!

[peaceforusa]

Bush needs to stop sending money to these other countries and keep it here where it is needed. He is looking for 10.6 billion to help Afghanistan, taking money from much needed cancer research and other important programs. We need to start protesting all this waste to these other countries and keep it here to help our own. This whole thing disgusts me. Start calling and writing letters of protest to your Senators, Representatives and even the White House. This has got to stop now!

[migrainegram]

newster1

I was being sarcastic -- I think it's appalling --and King George and Prince Richard are to blame.

[hartline12]

I was shocked when I heard this story. Finally, we seem on the brink of having some real breakthroughs in cancer treatment and prevention. How does anyone, even the President, even consider cutting funding to this research?

I watched my own mother die of cancer in 1985 and three years later lost my mother-in-law to it also. In 2004 I was also diagnosed. Early detection is why I'm still here!