Funding the Future: New York Cancer Advocates Head to Capitol Hill

On Tuesday, September 16, medical professionals and cancer survivors from New York joined over 750 people across the county on Capitol Hill to send a clear message to Congress - fund cancer research! They’re with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and are working to remind elected officials about the importance of protecting grants on behalf of the National Institute of Health, the National Cancer Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.These three organizations have been the main supporters of cancer research across the country. Now, in the face of drastic budget cuts, staff eliminations, and policy shifts under the Trump administration, funding that has helped drive cutting-edge cancer research could be in jeopardy. Last month, the Supreme Court allowed the National Institute of Health to withhold almost $2 Billion in grants to cancer research institutions, making the advocates’ mission timelier than ever.Radio Catskill’s Genevieve Hartnett spoke with two of these advocates - Diane Nathaniel, a stage III colorectal cancer survivor and Valerie Burger, an oncology nurse and medical leader, live on Capitol Hill that morning about the importance of early detection and how the work of these agencies have their saved lives.