What if the decades of progress against cancer — the breakthroughs, the rising survival rates, the new vaccines and cutting‑edge therapies — were suddenly put in jeopardy? Five decades after the “war on cancer” began, the U.S. has built a world‑class research engine that has pushed survival from roughly 49% in the 1970s to about 68% today. But that hard‑won momentum now faces existential threats: canceled grants and clinical trials, proposals to slash the National Cancer Institute budget, and an unprecedented politicization of biomedical research funding.

In this episode we ask the urgent question: can we protect cancer research — and the patients who depend on it?

Host Victoria Goldberg is joined by Pam Traxel, Senior Vice President at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and a lifelong patient advocate. Pam’s journey from politics to advocacy gives her a rare view of how policy and personal stories intersect. She breaks down how federal funding fuels basic science, clinical trials, and drug development; explains why patient voices matter in shaping laws; and shares real examples of how advocacy has changed public health — from smoke‑free laws to lives saved. She also offers candid, compassionate advice for people living with metastatic disease about using their voices to protect research that could change everything.

In addition, Abigail Johnston describes what funding cuts mean in practical, heartbreaking terms: halted clinical trials, lost opportunities for patients, and the emotional and financial toll on families. Her account underscores why the stakes are so high and why action can’t wait.

Listen for a conversation that’s part policy primer, part patient testimony, and all call to action: protecting cancer research is protecting lives.

If you’d like to get involved or learn more, visit fightcancer.org or livefromstage4.org

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Until next time, take care and keep pushing for progress.