Cancer Patients are Counting on Medical Innovation

It’s not every day you read something good about cancer and cancer treatments. That’s why it's important to celebrate some of the news that came out of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Annual Meeting back in May: a new pancreatic cancer treatment doubled survival and reduced the risk of death by 60% among patients.

I work with breast cancer patients across the region, and in my time helping them navigate care, I have seen firsthand how a cancer diagnosis affects so many parts of a person’s life. Through Hewlett House, we have spent decades helping patients navigate one of the hardest times of their life while advocating for better care, greater support, and continued progress in the fight against cancer. I have watched patients and their loved ones face impossible decisions while searching for hope in every new treatment. But supporting our patients doesn’t mean just providing services and programs. We must also support the scientific research and medical innovation that make better outcomes possible.

Each cancer patient requires a different, complex course of treatments. While we’ve made tremendous progress, far too many still face aggressive cancers. Over 120,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with cancer each year, and it remains the second leading cause of death. From Long Island to New York City and beyond, families continue to rely on new discoveries that provide more treatment options. Every breakthrough requires research, clinical trials, and significant investment before it can reach the patients who need it the most.

New York has been a longtime leader in medical research and innovation. From world-renowned cancer centers to groundbreaking clinical trials, our state continues to shape the future of cancer care. Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Representative Meeks, Representative Meng, Representative Ocasio-Cortez, Representative Malliotakis, and the rest of the New York City and Long Island Congressional delegation have an opportunity to ensure that leadership continues.

As Congress considers healthcare policies that could affect the future of biomedical innovation and access, I urge them to remember that behind every healthcare debate, there are real people waiting for a new treatment that could drastically change their outcome. Cancer patients depend on strong, continued innovation where new therapies are consistently being researched and made readily available. Continued medical innovation gives them the gift of hope for a longer, healthier future.

Geri Barish is a six-time cancer survivor, president of 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition and executive director of Hewlett House, a community resource center that services Long Island and the five boroughs.