How Cancer Research Advances Treatments and Saves Lives

Research and clinical trials are the basis for virtually any advancement in cancer care. Research is also essential to preventing, diagnosing and treating this disease and providing exceptional, forward-thinking levels of care.

Groundbreaking research – like that conducted at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center – is leading to better treatments and saving lives. Here are five reasons why cancer research is so important:

#1. Research helps prevent cancer.

The main goal of doctors and research teams around the world is to prevent cancer whenever possible. According to the American Cancer Society, research is essential to uncovering what factors may cause cancer. If we can identify these factors and take measures to avoid them, we may be able to prevent them from causing cancer.

#2 Cancer research leads to earlier diagnoses.

Some cancer risks are simply beyond our control, and in those cases, early detection is the next best thing to prevention. According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer research has led to more effective screening tests which can detect the disease earlier. In most cases, when cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat.

#3 Cancer research helps find more and better treatments.

Cancer research, like that conducted at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, turns discoveries into new diagnoses and treatments. Eligible patients may be given the opportunity to participate in select research studies to help evaluate the efficacy of new treatments and increase understanding of the ways to fight cancer.

#4 Cancer research improves patients' quality of life.

Some cancer treatments may cause pain, nausea, vomiting or other side effects. Cancer research seeks to minimize these side effects by adapting existing treatments and developing new ones that improve patients' overall comfort and quality of life.

#5 Cancer research saves lives.

Simply put, research and clinical trials help uncover better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. These medical breakthroughs have and will continue to save lives.

According to a press release from the American Association for Cancer Research, the number of cancer survivors in the United States reached a record high of more than 16.9 million on Jan. 1, 2019.

"Over the past few decades, a surge in scientific discovery and technological innovation has stimulated unparalleled progress against cancer," said Elaine R. Mardis, PhD, President of the AACR and co-executive director of the Institute for Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. "Robust annual increases in federal funding for medical research will pave the way for the next major breakthroughs that will transform cancer patient care."

Learn More about Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center