NCI responsed to my funding question

I had e-mail back and and forth with NCI and I think that someone finally took the time to formulate an answer that would shut me up.

I put my last e-mail then theirs. It's long.



> Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 9:51 AM
> To: NCI Cancer.gov Staff
> Subject: RE: Cancer.gov Inquiry - How much did you give to lung cancer research
>
>
> I would like to thank you for your reply. As someone that is battling lung cancer, it is very disharting to find that though lung cancer will take more lives than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined, it is the least funded. When I read that between the DOD, CDC and NIH over a billion dollars will be spent on breast cancer research, and only $199 million on lung cancer research, it does not make much sense. Even prostate cancer with its 99.7% survivablity rate at 5 years was given over $300 million. I am not trying to be a pain and a bother, but when I read that I have a 15% chance of being alive in 5 years, I realized I have to do whatever it take to get that 5 years. You see, that is when my daughter graduates high school and I need to be here for her.
>
> So if you could answer one last question for me: When it takes the most lives, why is lung cancer so under funded?
>
> Barb





> 11/6/09_50181PIQ
>
> Thank you for your follow-up e-mail to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) regarding lung cancer research funding. In your e-mail, you expressed concern about the amount of funding lung cancer research receives compared to other types of cancer. We understand this is a difficult time. We appreciate your interest in cancer research, and hope the following additional information is helpful.
>
> We agree that cancer demands our dedicated research efforts, and we have an unwavering commitment to developing effective prevention, early detection, and treatment approaches for all types of cancer, including lung cancer. NCI researchers are doing all they can to develop better ways to prevent and treat this formidable disease. Although we have made considerable progress against many forms of cancer, we share your frustration when our work does not lead more rapidly to a cure. Cancer touches all of us, including scientists and their families. Indeed, the work of NCI researchers makes them keenly aware of the burdens that cancer and its treatment often impose.
>
> While NCI's funding can be looked at from a disease-specific standpoint, one must take a step back to consider and understand the broader fight against cancer. NCI develops its budget based on research that can address critical unanswered questions covering the many types of cancers and the various populations that experience them. Making decisions about how to allocate our Nation's precious research resources with regard to particular types of cancer is challenging. We must be willing to direct resources toward scientific opportunity. In fact, scientific discovery often transcends organ site categorization and cuts across many types of cancer, as well as other diseases. The NCI's Science Serving People Web page includes information and resources about how NCI conducts science, manages its budget, and prepares for future years. This page is available at http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/servingpeople on the Internet.
>
> One particular example of NCI's commitment to research is its Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) program. This program was established to promote interdisciplinary research and move basic research findings from the laboratory to clinical settings involving patients and populations at risk of cancer. Laboratory and clinical scientists share the common goal of bringing novel ideas to clinical care settings that have the potential to reduce cancer incidence and mortality as well as improve survival and the quality of life. In order to achieve these goals, SPORE investigators work collaboratively to plan, design, and implement research programs that may impact cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
>
> Because of the huge burden of lung cancer in terms of morbidity and mortality, lung cancer was an early focus of the SPORE Program. Three Lung SPOREs have been funded since 1992 and additional SPOREs were added, raising the number to six in 2001. In the year 2003, the number of Lung Cancer SPOREs increased to seven. More information is available on the Lung SPOREs Program Home Page at http://spores.nci.nih.gov/current/lung/index.htm on the Internet.
>
> As we mentioned in our previous response, the NCI invested $247.6 million in lung cancer research in fiscal year 2008. This is an increase from FY 2007, in which the Institute invested $226.9 million. More information about specific NCI funding can be found in the NCI Fact Book 2008, which provides a breakdown of the Institute's budget by research area. In particular, the table entitled "Research Dollars by Various Cancers" includes funding amounts for specific cancers, including lung, breast, and prostate cancer. For example, this table shows that the NCI invested $572.6 million in breast cancer research and $285.4 million in prostate cancer research in FY 2008. This resource is available at http://obf.cancer.gov/financial/attachments/08Factbk.pdf on the Internet.
>
> You will need Adobe Acrobat(r) Reader to view the PDF (Portable Document Format) file mentioned above. If you do not already have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download the free software at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html on the Internet.
>
> In addition, the NCI spends about half of its total budget on basic research. This type of research is expanding our knowledge of cancer's origins, processes, and weaknesses. NCI is moving to more rapidly translate this new knowledge into safe, effective, targeted interventions for cancer patients. Before we can realize actual advances in the clinical setting, new therapies must be tested and proven in people. PDQ(r), NCI's comprehensive cancer information database, lists more than 250 treatment clinical trials (research studies) accepting patients with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. More information about these studies can be found at http://www.cancer.gov/search/ResultsClinicalTrials.aspx?protocolsearchid=69 56660 on the Internet.
>
> For general information about lung cancer, you may wish to refer to NCI's Lung Cancer Home Page. This Web page provides links to NCI resources about prevention, screening, treatment, clinical trials, and supportive care for this type of cancer. This page can be found on the NCI's Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/lung/ on the Internet.
>
> Thank you for writing. We extend our best wishes for your health.
>
>
> Deborah Pearson, R.N., M.P.H.
> Chief, Public Inquiries Office
> Cancer Information Service
> National Cancer Institute