AICR Opposes Proposed Cuts to Science, Cancer Prevention Research

Health and science research face massive cuts in last week’s proposed White House budget that — if enacted — would set back research on cancer prevention and ultimately cost lives, says the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR).

The proposed budget for fiscal year 2018 slashes the National Institutes of Health funding by 5.8 billion dollars, approximately 19 percent. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is part of the National Institutes of Health.

While the proposed budget does not give details on what will be eliminated, AICR stands against any cuts that will slow and possibly irrevocably setback the progress in improving cancer prevention and survivorship.

In 2017, there will be an estimated 1,688,780 new cancer cases. Over 600,920 people living in the United States will die from this disease. Research over the past few decades has led to a greater understanding of what drives cancer development and what protects us. Only through analyzing the global research has AICR’s network found many ways in which diet, weight management and physical activity lowers people’s cancer risk.

Research now shows that hundreds of thousands of US cancer cases can be prevented every year. At a time when the field has come so far, there is an urgent need to continue this research. Only through more study can individuals – and the country – prevent much of the cost, loss and suffering that cancer brings.