Government should prioritize cancer research

Iowa faces a growing public health crisis that demands our attention and action. The 2025 Iowa Cancer Registry report confirms a deeply troubling trend: our state has the second-highest and fastest-growing rate of new cancer cases in the United States. An estimated 21,200 Iowans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year, a number that continues to climb.

This alarming rise in cancer rates since 2015 is not just a statistic — it represents thousands of our friends, neighbors, and family members fighting for their lives. The reasons for this increase are not fully understood, which is why robust cancer research is so critical. We need to identify the causes of this trend to develop effective prevention strategies.

Unfortunately, at the same time our state’s cancer problem is intensifying, federal support for cancer research is being drastically reduced. Reports indicate that the proposed federal budget slashes the National Cancer Institute's funding by 37% — from $7.2 billion to $4.5 billion — its smallest budget in decades when adjusted for inflation. Cutting hundreds of millions of dollars from research grants will hamstring the very scientists and institutions working to understand and combat this disease.

Furthermore, the growing number of cancer survivors in Iowa face new challenges with long-term survivorship. They rely on support from programs like Medicare to manage their health and care. Yet, proposed cuts to Medicare could jeopardize their access to the ongoing support they need.

If we don't have the statistics, we can't fully grasp the breadth of our problem here in Iowa. If we don’t fund research, we won’t understand why our cancer rates are rising so quickly. This is not the time to retreat from our commitment to public health. We must ensure that our leaders prioritize the funding necessary to fight this disease and support those who are living with and surviving cancer.

Diana Krystofiak, Fairfield