The Nation's Investment in Cancer Research
A Plan and Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2008
Prepared by the Director, National Cancer Institute as mandated by The National Cancer Act (P.L. 92-218)
Improving the Quality of Life for Cancer Patients, Survivors, and Their Families
We will support the development and dissemination of interventions to reduce the adverse effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment and improve health-related outcomes for cancer patients, survivors, and their families/caregivers.
Today's Research
Advances in our ability to detect, treat, and support cancer patients are turning this disease into one that is chronic or readily managed for many and curable for increasing numbers. NCI quality-of-life research includes:
- Investigating the effects of cancer and its diagnosis and treatment on survivors and their families/caregivers
- Long-term and late effects of breast and other cancers
- Impact of physical, psychosocial, economic, and behavioral factors
- Supporting both descriptive and intervention survivorship research
- Researching pediatric cancer survivorship
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- Other pediatric cancers
Tomorrow's Strategies
NCI will support survivorship research to improve the health and quality of life of all cancer patients following their diagnosis and initial treatment. These studies will include both the prevention and control aspects of chronic disease epidemiology. NCI will:
- Increase research to understand biologic, physical, psychological, and social factors and their interactions that affect a cancer patient's response to disease, treatment, and recovery.
- Expand the development and use of tools to assess the health-related quality of life of cancer survivors and their family members and caregivers.
- Increase the pace of intervention research designed to reduce cancer-related acute, chronic, or late morbidity (adverse effects caused by treatment) and mortality.
- Ensure that new information, interventions, and best practices for addressing the health needs of survivors and their families reach the people who need them.
Moving Research Forward
…with Motivation for Healthy Behavior Change after Cancer
The challenges imposed by a cancer diagnosis can be life-altering, particularly in terms of changing the health behaviors of patients and survivors. Indeed, some feel that cancer represents an important “teachable moment” for many cancer survivors that can lead to positive choices and healthier lifestyles. These changes may improve the emotional outlook and overall health of cancer survivors, and even alter the course of their disease.
NCI supports research on the motivation potential of a cancer diagnosis. This research is of special importance because cancer survivors are at increased risk for progressive or recurring disease, second cancers, osteoporosis, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and functional decline. Although more research is needed, opportunities exist for medical teams to promote lifestyle changes that may improve the length and quality of survivors' lives.
…and Progress in Pursuit of our Goal
- Physical Activity to Extend Survival and Improve Quality of Life. Physical inactivity following cancer is a known risk with an adverse effect on weight and health. A number of researchers have shown that exercise interventions can improve survivors' physical and emotional health, functional well-being, and quality of life. Moreover, evidence now shows that physical activity interventions can alter the course of disease recurrence or death. Two recent NCI studies found that patients with early- to later-stage colorectal cancer (but not distant metastases) who engaged in regular activity after diagnosis decreased the chance of cancer recurrence and mortality by 40 to 50 percent or more, compared with patients who engaged in little to no activity.
- Lowering Dietary Fat to Reduce Breast Cancer Recurrence. Similarly, the first evidence of a positive effect of dietary change on cancer has been reported. The NCI-sponsored Women's Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) was the first large-scale intervention trial to study the influence of dietary fat on breast cancer outcomes in postmenopausal women treated for early-stage breast cancer. WINS investigators reported that lowering dietary fat may lower the risk of breast cancer recurrence in this population.
These behavioral change studies hold the promise of reducing cancer-related morbidity and promoting general health. At the same time, these interventions also appear to have great appeal to cancer survivors eager to reduce the stress in their lives and to regain control of their lives and bodies after cancer diagnosis and treatment.
