Almost every day, thousands of people encounter news of a cancer diagnosis, a cure or hope. When someone is diagnosed or treated for cancer, it is not just an individual story; it tells us about a range of issues, from the health system to scientific progress, from social awareness to public policy.
Therefore, scientific research and how it is supported is at the heart of the fight. The budgets that countries allocate to this field and the policies they pursue affect where humanity stands or will stand in the fight against cancer. Moreover, this is not limited to the development of new drugs or treatment methods, but covers a wide range of areas from early diagnosis to disease prevention.
In 2025, news from the United States of America (USA) of a “budget cut for cancer research” has also sparked debate on the impact of this on the fight against cancer.
US President Donald Trump has cut funding for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a center for important cancer research. Trump cut the institute’s budget by 37 percent to 7.22 billion from dollar 4.53 billion dollars dropped. This cut is just one part of the Trump administration’s ongoing policy of cutting health spending.
This has raised serious concerns in the fight against cancer. Experts have reacted by warning that the cuts could halt scientific progress and affect the lives of millions of patients.
So why does the NCI and its cancer research matter when government funding is restricted?
This organization is the “backbone” of cancer research in the US. It pioneers cancer research and provides various funds. Moreover, it does not only do this within the US, but also supports research in many parts of the world. It also conducts training programs for experts working on cancer research.
The importance of the organization becomes even clearer in light of the data. Every year, more than 2 million people in the US alone are diagnosed with cancer and more than 600,000 people die from the disease . Worldwide, more than 20 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2022 and more than 9 million people died from the disease. Cancer is the second deadliest disease in the world after heart disease. One in every five people will develop cancer at some point in their lives, and one in every six people will die from the disease.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, new cancer cases are expected to reach 35 million by 2050. This potential increase points to the need to further strengthen early detection, prevention and treatment strategies.
Over the years, extensive research and improved treatment methods have led to significant progress in the fight against cancer. For example, in the US alone, the cancer death rate declined by 34 percent between 1991 and 2022. Between 2001 and 2022, the rate declined steadily each year, with an average annual decline of 1.5 percent between 2014 and 2023. Today, more than 18 million people in the country are alive despite a cancer diagnosis.
This is directly proportional to the financial support provided by the state. Federal funding of scientific research plays a major role in increasing cancer survival rates and reducing mortality rates.
Cutting these funds is therefore severely hampering efforts to develop new treatments, improve early detection and more effectively control the disease. As a result of these policies, thousands of employees have been laid off and many research projects have been canceled or delayed.
Sylvia Chou, a grants manager at the National Cancer Institute who left her job after these processes, said that some research was terminated in anonymous and unsigned emails simply because it evoked the concepts of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), NPR reported. Chou describes this process as “unmanned attacks from above”.
The fact that it is not known by whom decisions are made is seen as a loss of accountability within the system. One of the most serious consequences of this situation is seen as scientists losing confidence in the US.
The impact of “unsupported” science on the world
And this does not only affect the US. Research conducted by organizations such as the NCI directly influences health policies around the world. The drugs, diagnostic methods and screening protocols developed here play a decisive role in setting global standards. Therefore, trends in cancer research have a critical impact on shaping international health strategies.
For example, the HPV vaccine was introduced in 2006, which is considered an important milestone in the fight against Human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes serious diseases such as cervical cancer. Scientific studies conducted by researchers at the NCI and in countries such as Australia played a decisive role in the development of this vaccine. Today, the vaccine remains one of the most effective methods of preventing cervical cancer worldwide.
Another important example comes from studies on early detection of lung cancer. The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), a large clinical trial conducted by the NCI involving more than 53,000 people, found that low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening reduced lung cancer mortality by 20 percent. This result led to an update of national screening guidelines in the US and has led many countries to implement similar early detection programs.
Scientific efforts to fight cancer are not limited to the United States; research institutions in many countries are also conducting vital work in this field. Supporting these institutions determines the future of the fight.
Australia, for example, is among the countries that support cancer research with public funds.
In 2024-2025, the Australian government is allocating 164.7 million Australian dollars for cancer research through the National Health and Medical Research Council alone, and a total of 6.5 billion dollars over 10 years through the Medical Research Future Fund. In addition, $126.4 million is earmarked specifically for brain cancer and $750 million for clinical trials for rare cancers.
These funds cover not only new drug development but also early detection, screening programs and prevention strategies. While around 170,000 new cancer cases are expected in the country in 2025, the 5-year survival rate has risen to 72 percent and mortality rates have declined significantly over the last 20 years.
The situation is similar in the UK. Financial support for cancer research is provided through both public institutions and charities. In 2021, approximately 395,181 new cancer cases and 168,873 cancer-related deaths were recorded in the country. Since the 1970s, cancer deaths have fallen by more than 20 percent.
Canada is among the countries that provide financial support for cancer research. In Canada, an average of 500 million dollars is invested in cancer research annually. Clinical research is being conducted on early diagnosis and cancer prevention. Research shows that cancer cases and mortality rates have generally decreased in the country; however, it is also stated that cancer cases are likely to increase due to the aging population.
Therefore, the impact of public resources allocated to cancer research on life is more than meets the eye. Increasing or decreasing financial support in this area affects early diagnosis, survival rates and the development of new treatment methods. International studies clearly show that research funding reduces mortality rates and increases life expectancy.
Öyküm Hüma Keskin 
