The Disparity In Cancer Research Funding

(CBS)  In 2006, 560,000 Americans died of cancer, down 2 percent from the previous year. Cancer is on the decline in this country - down 19 percent among men between 1990 and 2005 and 11 percent among women between 1991 and 2005.

But those declines are concentrated among the cancers that receive the most research funding, while some of the fastest growing cancers are getting little publicity or funding, as CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports.

Amy Schoener loves her life as a new mother. But a year ago she took on another role when her father, Edward, was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus.

"When a doctor looks in your face and says, 'Your father has a year to live, and the treatment options are small,' and I'm not a doctor, and I'm not someone who can go out and research a cure personally, what can I do?" Schoener said.

What she does is spend all her spare time raising awareness of her father's disease, one of the country's fastest-growing and least funded cancers.

"Until we get some attention and some dollars for research, we're going to be exactly where we are now - it's going to keep growing," Schoener said..

A CBS News analysis of data released Wednesday by the American Cancer Society reveals a large disparity in funding for different types of cancer.

For every cancer death, the most federal research dollars were spent on cancer of the cervix ($18,870) and breast ($14,095) and on Hodgkin lymphoma ($12,791). The least funded were cancers of the stomach ($1,168), lung ($1,553), and esophagus ($1,542).

One reason for the disparity - some advocacy groups, like those for breast cancer, are more adept at raising awareness. And with awareness comes cash.

"It's clear that some of the gender related cancers are very effective in raising funding for research," said Dr. Raymond DuBois, provost at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Twenty-eight-year-old Andrew Lesser is feeling the effects of this inequity. He's battling esophageal cancer, which gets just a tiny slice of the cancer research pie.

"Certain ones get more attention, get more funding. They know more about them. This - it's still kind of an unknown," Lesser said.

Officials at the National Cancer Institute say they're not getting enough grant proposals for research into cancers of the esophagus, stomach, and pancreas.

[whoz069]

What about CEO salaries? According to Charity Navigator's 2009 CEO Salary Report the average acceptable annual salary for a mid-atlantic, mid to large, non-profit organization's CEO is $160,000. Yet there is a CEO of a tri-county area small non-profit cancer research organization, that is currently making about $600,000 a year. Does this seem right?

[whoz069]

What about CEO salaries? According to Charity Navigator's 2009 CEO Salary Report the average acceptable annual salary for a mid-atlantic, mid to large, non-profit organization's CEO is $160,000. Yet there is a CEO of a tri-county area small non-profit cancer research organization, that is currently making about $600,000 a year. Does this seem right?

[akc4news]

We will not see a change in how cancer of any type is treated until we have nationalised health care. Health care that is not driven for the profit of the insurance industry and the pharmacutecal companies.Please contact your Senators and congressmen and women and help bring about the change our health care system so desparately needs.One Voice, One Vote! Please make your self heard.

[mlm89]

At least Esphageal cancer has a line item in the National Cancer Institute research funds for $22,441,827. Bile Duct Cancer doesn't have its own line item for funding research yet is on the increase. Given the lack of symptoms it is most likely found in Stage 4 (like mine). How do we get funding for cancer research for rare cancer?

[number1GI]

Nine years (Esophageal) cancer free this month (may)

[number1GI]

Esophageal Cancer is not even listed on many lists of types of Cancer , yet this is one of the silent killers It sneaks up on you . It started with me as "heart burn" that went on until the cancer had grown large enough to inhibit swallowing, By that time it was stage four. After massive treatment of chemo and radiation together and surgery and a long recovery time I was declared ccancer free. I sincerly hope this helps to save a life

[andylance1]

Billions for allopathic research and Zero for prevention. Massive fraud on clinical trials to approve cancer meds that wind up more dangerous than the cancer.

There is exciting research that Turmeric powder and its active ingredient, curcumin, help prevent cancer and alzheimers, yet the FDA suppresses this information.

There is exciting research that some Asian mushrooms like Shiitake, Agaricus, Maitake and Reishi help prevent and treat cancer, yet the FDA suppresses this information.

There is exciting research that Vitamin D prevents cancer, yet the FDA suppresses this information.

[mutnauq4842]

The big waste in research comes from "publish or perish" University research. Just because it makes the journals....statistically significant but clinically irrelevant.

[nlada]

Not really! The real reason is that not enough cases are diagnosed at any stage for money to be thrown at those rarer cancers. It is the same with an disease. The less number of victims, the less money to do research. I discovered that sad truth in '99 when I was diagnosed with anal cancer. When I had it, there was less than 1500 cases diagnosed that year. In comparsion there were over 100,000 cases of breast cancer that year.The number of cases have been steadily rising since. Farrah Fawcett ended her special asking why there was not more research being done and I ,for one, was cheering her on. She helped get the word out about anal cancer (not colon or rectal!) but also tried to get people to understand why these cancers are not being treated with our best. Anal cancer was originally a mainly female cancer up until AIDS. Since the late 80's to early 90's there was some money from the AIDS foundations thrown toward it but nowhere near enough.The really sad thing there is because of where that money came from, the research is geared to understanding why AIDs and HIV are rising the rates and ignoring why people like me got it when we in no way met any of the lifestyle choices that they blame for it. It is sad but that is the way things work. Even doctors and pharmacutical companies want the most bang for the buck!

[highlander60]

in response to gdpawel:

Thank you for your most accurate comment. By far the most developed country on the planet, it never ceases to amaze me with "all the $$money" they have collected from $$donations as well as OUTRAGEOUS$$charged for treatments makes me ask "WHAT IS GOING ON?" Cancer is $$BIG$$BUSINESS. There's a cure allfight, but they wouldn't make all that $$$MONEY$$$ if it was revealed! Like so much else in the world today, it's all about the almighty dollar.