Nearly 143,000 Hoosiers will die from cancer this year, according to data from the Indiana Department of Health and the American Cancer Society.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly detected cancer in men, while breast cancer tops the list for women. Lung and colorectal cancer diagnoses affect both genders equally. Although cancer survival rates are at a historic high, potential cuts to research proposed by the Trump administration could impact survival rates.

Dr. Alicia Zhou, CEO of the Cancer Research Institute, said funding has already been cut in some areas.

"Research that are particularly focused on disparities and diversity in health care and in science," she said. "As well as specific areas of investigation, like we’ve seen, unfortunately, a decrease in funding for work that involves cancer vaccines."

Members of Congress have successfully fought back against some funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health, but Zhou said uncertainty has forced some labs to cut staff and stop research projects.

According to the Indiana Cancer Consortium, 40% of all Hoosiers living today will develop cancer in their lifetime.

Young scientists are also paying close attention to the debate over funding. Zhou said some are considering switching careers or studying outside of the United States.

"That, unfortunately, would be an irreparable – you can’t control that kind of a change," she said. "And so we’re not going to feel the effects of that tomorrow, but we will feel the effects of that in 10 years or 15 years, when suddenly the most innovative science is no longer happening at U.S.-based institutions."

Indiana has 383 oncologists – 185 are located in Indianapolis, but there are concerns of a shortage as many of these specialists are nearing retirement.

Source: Public News Service