This episode is about cancerversaries, as Kristine just surpassed her 4th cancerversary (it's on her birthday). It's from my perspective as a care partner - what I've learned and hopefully things that are helpful. I'm very fortunate that Kristine has reached this important milestone and hoping for many, many more.
Colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly Stage 4 MSS (Microsatellite Stable) CRC needs more everything. And the executive branch of the United States federal government is trying to take away quite a large chunk of funding from cancer research. (Yes, that comes up in THIS episode - because there can't be cancerversaries without cancer research.) Fortunately, the US Senate Appropriations Committee voted bipartisan (26-3) to give MORE money to NIH than last year. Not the 40% slashing that the executive branch wanted. Hopefully this will include fully staffing the NIH as well.
https://www.fightcancer.org/releases/us-senate-appropriations-committee-shows-strong-bipartisan-support-cancer-research-funding
That doesn't mean we're out of the woods - because it hasn't passed the full Senate and there are still so many questions. Please continue to contact your Senators and Representatives about how important cancer research funding is. Many lives depend on it.
Here is a form from AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) that lets you send a personalized message to your senators and representative.
https://www.aacr.org/professionals/policy-and-advocacy/aacr-legislative-action-center/
You can also directly help to fundraise for individual NCI (National Cancer Institute) centers. For example, Johns Hopkins has a fund where 100% of the money raised goes directly to research. They have specific trials that have been run directly from this fundraising.
