Axios Event: Cancer survivors share their experiences to shape a better future for patients

WASHINGTON – Advancements in research, treatment and diagnosis have greatly improved care and outcomes for cancer patients, advocates said at a May 20 Axios event.

Why it matters: Cancer care has undergone a major transformation, underscoring the importance of continued investment as research funding faces an uncertain future and cancer cases rise among younger Americans.

Axios' Tina Reed spoke with cancer patient advocate Amanda Rose Ferraro and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) at the event, sponsored by AstraZeneca.

The big picture: As survivors of cancer themselves, Ferraro and Wasserman Schultz said their experiences inform their patient advocacy.

• Ferraro was first diagnosed with leukemia at 8 years old and was able to receive life-saving care. Several of her family members also received cancer diagnoses soon after.
• After relapsing in adulthood due to a rare genetic mutation that runs in her family, she underwent a stem cell transplant and has since been cancer-free for over six years.
• Wasserman Schultz said her breast cancer diagnosis at age 41 taught her the importance of being vigilant about health. "My lesson that I tell everyone … is that you must pay attention to your breast health."

What they're saying: "I wanted people to understand that cancer is not black and white. It's a big gray area," Ferraro said.

• She aims to shed light on the often burdensome aspects of treatment, such as the costs beyond medical bills that pile up from long hospital stays. She is also focused on advocacy for policies that help patients not only survive but thrive after treatment.
• Creating more awareness among young women about their breast health and improving early detection have been key focuses for Wasserman Schultz in her work on Capitol Hill.

Context: Breast cancer cases among young women are increasing, Wasserman Schultz said.

• "Early detection is the key," she said. "Making sure that we have research dollars flowing into the kind of research that we absolutely need to prolong life, ensure that people can catch breast cancer or any kind of cancer early, and create more survivors is essential."

What we're watching: Scientists have warned budget cuts could hamper years of innovation in cancer research.

• Waiting to see what will happen with the federal budget "is a little scary," Ferraro said, noting many cancer patients are on Medicaid and need the money.
• Wasserman Schultz added: "If the Republicans want to go along with cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in NIH cancer research grants, I guess they could do that. But there's just no question that more people will die, fewer clinical research trials will be done."

The bottom line: "I have beat the odds when I was told that I wasn't," Ferraro said. Her advocacy has helped others do so too, she said.

• "I've been able to see through different advocacy that I do … these wonderful clinical trials go through and save people's lives, and people who thought they were dying three years ago are out thriving and running marathons, and having children, and advocating. It's amazing to see."

Content from the sponsored segment:

In a View From the Top conversation, AstraZeneca senior vice president and head of U.S. oncology Mohit Manrao said we're in a "golden era" of science, innovation and technology, highlighting the speed at which oncology care has advanced over the last decade.

• "At the same time, there's 2 million diagnoses in the United States itself last year, and the cancer rates are on an ever-increasing rate, especially in younger populations," he said.
• "I think both policy and infrastructure need to catch up to ensure that we are able to deal with what's coming ahead, but also deliver the innovation that's happening today to every ZIP code, every patient who can benefit."