Despite these advances, 1,500 people will die from cancer today, 1,500 tomorrow and 1,500 the day after that and so on. The side effects of treatments can still be debilitating, and many survivors live with the risk of recurrence or new cancers. If anything, now is the time to redouble our efforts in research trials, not scaling them back.

The problem is that the government has flat lined or cut the budget for the past four years. These funding cuts will put the brakes on future progress, resulting in fewer lives saved through research.

Since 2004, we have been in the midst of the longest sustained period of flat funding for cancer research in decades. In real dollars, the cancer research budget has actually fallen 12 percent over the past four years. We cannot risk our momentum against this disease. Unfortunately, the recent benefits seen as a result of research funding, is at risk of being squandered if something isn’t done. The National Cancer Institute is seeing reductions in grant applications, cutbacks in clinical trial enrollment and the elimination of entire research programs across the nation. Another critical and unwanted result of funding cuts is that fewer researchers are staying in their chosen fields. And fewer research dollars will act as a disincentive for new investigators to enter the field. This will certainly have a long-term impact on cancer survivorship, as reduced research will mean delays in scientific breakthroughs. This spells disaster.

We must get involved. Each and every person should have real concern about these cuts. You can help by contacting your local government representatives. Let them know that ramping up funding for cancer clinical trials is imperative.

The physicians of Illinois CancerCare are committed to continuing the clinical research trials that are being done here in Central Illinois; as well as continuing to help fund the costs associated with these trials. They are also underwriting all of the administrative costs associated with this foundation; therefore every dollar donated goes directly to fund Research, Education and Awareness right here in Central Illinois. Donations can be made payable to the Peoria Cancer Center Foundation.