The pandemic is driving huge change for the myriad groups that raise money for cancer, as gathering donors is simply not possible. A number of charities tell SurvivorNet that coronavirus poses an existential threat to their efforts.
Voices of Hope, a Boston-based all-volunteer music performance program that raises money for cancer research, found a solution to performing for audiences while maintaining social distancing. Since practices have been halted due to Covid-19, Voices of Hope decided to put on a virtual cabaret show where each member of the group recorded their portion of a performance in their home. Once each person’s contribution was added, the entire video was nearly three hours long.
Read MoreObviously, many cancer patients and survivors need one another now more than ever.
Cancer Research Funding Slashed During Covid-19
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, cancer research may be in jeopardy as cuts in fundraising could impact years of future treatments. Cancer Research U.K. (CRUK) announced that Covid-19 has slashed fundraising across it’s research portfolio, and the organization estimates they will lose $45 million this year alone.
The cuts in cancer research funding are coming at a very bad time to say the least. Over recent years, the United States saw the rate of cancer deaths drop by 2.2% – largest ever single year drop. This progress has a lot to do with new developments in immunotherapy treatments for cancer patients.
“We actually developed methods for genetically modifying a patient’s own immune cells by putting in genes to cause them to express molecules that would enable them to recognize the cancer in a new way,” Dr. Steven Rosenberg, the Chief of Surgery at the National Cancer Institute, tells SurvivorNet.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.