Two recent articles highlight the need to focus attention on cancers that have previously been less widely acknowledged by both funding and attention by the general public.
The first article from the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News discusses the challenges faced in research for rare cancers. Traditionally, less funding has been available for research for these diseases, mostly due to economic challenges in recouping investment when there is a small disease population. The Life Raft group continues to raise funds for research for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) as part of our Rare 13 campaign.
With the onset of more targeted therapies demonstrating success in increasing survival rates as evidenced by the impact of Gleevec on GIST, this is beginning to shift, but more information about rare diseases such as GIST needs to be disseminated.
The second article, from the Cancer Council of Australia, illustrates the value of advocacy, as the Council initiates the Cancer Council’s Forgotten Cancer Project.
