Kathy Flaherty: We must invest in cancer research as a nation

We’re all just one degree of separation from someone with cancer. Each of us has a relative, friend or co-worker who has battled the disease. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Stand Up To Cancer have joined in an unprecedented effort to save more lives by boosting the nation’s investment in lifesaving cancer research.

We’re asking Congress to increase medical research funding at the National Institutes of Health by $6 billion over two years, including $1 billion for cancer research at the National Cancer Institute.

Cancer strikes one in two men and one in three women in their lifetimes. But thanks to innovative treatments and therapies, nearly 15 million cancer survivors are living – and thriving – in America.

Lifesaving cancer treatments have one thing in common – they begin with basic research often made possible by federal investments. NIH and NCI fund promising research projects conducted in labs nationwide. These projects save lives. Join us at www.OneDegreeProject.org to increase cancer research funding and save more lives. Share your One Degree. Cancer hits hard. Together we can fight back.

This story was originally published March 16, 2015 at 12:50 PM with the headline "Kathy Flaherty: We must invest in cancer research as a nation."