February 10 2025
An appeal to the Trump administration has been made by a leading cancer research group, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). They are urging the administration to restore the data collection for the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on cancer patients and research, which was halted by the Trump administration in July.
The AACR, a professional organization that focuses on cancer research and its impact on patient care, has emphasized the importance of this data collection, highlighting its role in providing crucial information to the scientific community as well as policymakers. The organization made its plea in a report released on October 14, entitled 'COVID-19 and Cancer: A Call to Action.'
The report detailed the significant disruptions the pandemic has caused to cancer care and research. Many clinical trials have been postponed, and preventative procedures, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, have been delayed due to the fear of COVID-19 exposure. The AACR believes this could lead to an increase in cancer diagnosis rates and deaths in the coming years.
Moreover, the AACR report suggested that the pandemic's impact could be long-lasting, affecting cancer rates and mortality for years to come. It urged the Trump administration to restore the data collection to help understand these potential long-term effects and guide future policy decisions.
The Trump administration discontinued the data collection in July, arguing that the data was not being used effectively. However, the AACR contends that the data provides valuable insights into the impact of the pandemic on cancer patients and research. The organization hopes that their plea will result in the reinstatement of this vital data collection.
