Cancer Experts Call for More Research On Quality of Life for Cancer Survivors

American Institute for Cancer Research
Thursday, 29 March 2001

Some Funding Available, But Lack of Substantial Government Support Discourages Scientific Attention, Say Experts

The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) today renewed its call for research proposals dealing with life after cancer. The Institute, known for its work in the area of diet and cancer prevention, is urging researchers to apply for available AICR grants exploring the impact of dietary and lifestyle factors upon issues specifically related to survivorship.

These issues include risk of cancer recurrence, late effects arising from cancer treatment, and overall quality of life. AICR also called for research into the possible health benefits of supplements and other products that are targeted to the survivor community.

Each year, AICR sets funds aside to support work exploring all aspects of the diet-cancer connection. Historically, however, too few of the research proposals received by the Institute have focused on issues that arise after cancer has been successfully treated.

"A small but significant amount of research has explored aspects of life after cancer," said Ritva Butrum, AICR Vice President for Research. To date, most of this work has dealt with childhood cancers. More information is sorely needed, Butrum said, and research efforts should extend to issues arising from adult cancer and cancer treatment. "Of interest to AICR are the ways by which what we eat and how we live may influence recurrence, secondary cancers and late effects of treatment," she added.

There are currently an estimated 8.5 million cancer survivors in the US, a figure that will continue to rise as the population ages and efforts to screen, detect and successfully treat cancer continue to improve.

"The enormous advances that have been made in cancer treatment have opened up new sets of questions that need to be addressed," said Butrum. "Universities, cancer centers and charitable research organizations like AICR will continue to play an important role. But this increasingly vital area of research is crying out for the kind of sustained, comprehensive commitment that only federal funds can provide."

The federal government devotes over $4.3 billion to cancer research each year. Yet for fiscal year 2000, the research budget of the government's Office of Cancer Survivorship was only $10 million, or less than 0.2 percent of all federal cancer funds.

AICR believes an increased amount of governmental support for survivor-oriented research would raise national awareness of post-cancer issues and attract new scientists to the field.

To encourage a greater national interest in survivor research, the Institute is holding the first-ever conference on Nutrition After Cancer on May 8, 2001 at the New York Academy of Medicine in New York City. The conference will bring together cancer scientists, cancer survivors and the media to present the latest results and suggest directions for future research.

To register for the AICR Nutrition After Cancer Conference, call 1-800-843-8114, extension 33 or download the registration form from the AICR website at www.aicr.org Cost for attendance is $55 and includes a healthy, flavorful lunch that follows AICR's dietary guidelines.

For more information, or to contact American Institute for Cancer Research, see their website at: www.aicr.org