Kitti became a cancer advocate after her best friend was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at the age of 44. Her friend’s cancer journey has been full of ups and downs. For nearly three years she had no evidence of active disease but that has changed. New tumors have been detected, and she has had to go through more rounds of radiation.
Without cancer research funding my friend won’t have the chance to see her son grow up. We must keep investing in cancer research.
Her treatment has impacted her quality of life. She has had trouble eating, is suffering from extreme fatigue and her immune system is weakening. Her experience has opened Kitti’s eyes to the need for continued investment in cancer research. We need more treatment options for late-stage cancers.
Kitti is concerned about the National Institute of Health cancer related research grants that have been terminated, including many clinical trials. She worries that one of these grants may have been funding the research that could help keep her best friend alive.
Kitti has dreams for her children and she knows that her friend shares these dreams for her son too. “I want my best friend to live a long full life, a life where she can see her son graduate high school and college, to see him start a family of his own.” Her friend deserves a chance to see her son grow up, but without the continued funding of cancer research, her treatment options are limited. Cancer research funding is vital for her and all cancer patients.