AK's CancerThon Part 4: Cancer Research Funding

Research funding is so important because that money is key to finding a cancer cure. The federal government's National Cancer Institute is the nation's number one cancer research funding provider. But, often times, the bureaucratic process stands in the way. That's why the national Stand Up To Cancer's telethon proceeds go directly to these researchers. It turns out, the second biggest cancer research-funding provider is your American Cancer Society.

Racquetball is Warren Bailey's passion. In fact, we at CBS 11 News Cancer Connection first met Bailey at a racquetball cancer fundraiser last summer.

"I'm glad to be here right now," Bailey said one year later. The leiomyosarcoma survivor is still spreading the word about the fact

that the feds do not give cancer enough funding.

That's where the American Cancer Society steps in—whether it is providing funding to help Bailey raise research money for his rare tissue cancer, that Bailey calls "the forgotten cancer," —or providing money for what are known as clinical trials.

Providence Cancer Center's Medical Research Director, Dr. Jeanne Anderson, explains clinical trials are, "Being treated with treatment that is not yet proven to be beneficial, but is thought to be better then existing treatment."

Anderson says right now there are 40 to 50 cancer clinical trials going on around our state. "The big part I think is awareness. The patients in Alaska who have cancer, I would like them to be aware that there are treatment options for them."

Cancer Research Nurse Krista Rangitsch says clinical trials look, "...at giving the treatment in a different way. Or maybe the drug is approved for breast cancer. And we want to see if it works well in prostate cancer."

Right now, however, for the former state racquetball champion, Bailey's rare muscle cell cancer, not only has no clinical trial, he explains "we get no treatment for cancer."

While 95 percent of cancer patients

in Bailey's position would already be dead, he explains, "I'm proving them wrong." That's why increasing cancer research funding is so important to help folks like Bailey literally win the match of their lifetime.

Unlike the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society actually funds up-and-coming smaller projects. One current research project would create a test like a pregnancy test for pancreatic cancer. That is a cancer that really gives no warning signs, and has one of the highest death rates. Also on the horizon, state cancer doctors are trying to push a proposal, that if it became law, would require insurance companies to cover clinical trials.

To contact Matthew, call 907-273-3186.