American Italian Cancer Foundation - Executive Director's Message

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and the total number

of cases globally is increasing.  The number of global cancer deaths is projected to increase 45% from 2007 to

2030, from 7.9 million to 11.5 million deaths.  New cases of cancer in the same period are estimated to jump from 11.3 million in 2007 to 15.5 million in 2030.
 
Despite this dire outlook, the most brilliant minds in cancer research tell us that cancer will be eliminated.  It is only a question of how long it will take.

 

Advances in cancer research, including advances in the biological and molecular sciences, have brought about dramatic changes as to what we know about cancer and how we treat it. We know that breast cancer, for instance, is many different diseases; oncologists are now able to classify different breast cancer types and choose therapies to best suit each type.  We also have better tools for the early diagnosis of breast cancer that have significantly reduced the number of late-stage, difficult-to-treat cases.

 

Other cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, are difficult to diagnose early and once diagnosed, have limited therapeutic options.  This means that most pancreatic cancer patients die within one year of diagnosis.

 

However, scientific progress is constantly being made, and breakthroughs often come from unexpected places.  The novel ideas of the dedicated young scientists and seasoned scientific investigators supported by AICF are bringing us closer to this ultimate goal.  Early diagnosis is the best way to prevent the number of cancer deaths; therefore, we must make cancer screening accessible for those without health insurance or adequate access.

 

AICF is fortunate to have great flexibility when it comes to making funding decisions for cancer research, and the phenomenal work of AICF’s exceptional Scientific Advisory Board ensures that the dollars you contribute are wisely spent.

 

Your financial investment in AICF’s work is an investment in eradicating a costly and deadly disease in a timely manner.  Thank you for your generosity and partnership as we seek to find the answers as quickly as possible.