As a pediatrician, I’ve been at the bedside of countless families whose lives changed in a moment when they learned their child had cancer.
As a daughter and patient, myself, I’ve scrambled to learn as much as I could about new diagnoses, treatments, and testing for adult cancers, all while wondering if this was the moment my own life was going to drastically change.
For those of us in Tennessee, where we have the sixth-highest cancer death rate in the country, this is a particularly sobering reality. Our communities deserve better and only by coming together will we make a change for good.
Research has the power to unravel the mysteries of cancer and help patients everywhere not only survive cancer but thrive. Innovative studies at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center are working hard to identify the barriers that keep people from getting access to cancer screening and care and finding new ways to diagnose and treat cancer.
Decades ago, a cancer diagnosis was often seen as a death sentence. Today, thanks to research in laboratories, clinics, and communities all over the world, we’ve made advances in early detection methods, innovative treatments, and personalized medicine.
Survival rates for many types of cancer have improved significantly, but we still have a long way to go. For example, here in Shelby County, our death rates from prostate and breast cancer are among the highest in the state despite advancements in screening and early treatment for these cancers. Research is needed to not only identify new treatments for people with these cancers, but also to find ways to be sure that everyone can get early access to the care they need.
At UT Health Science Center, our researchers are developing new compounds that show great promise in overcoming chemotherapy resistance and reducing toxicity for patients battling triple-negative breast cancer, as well as an innovative drug that has shown remarkable results in a phase 1 clinical trial for patients with advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer.
This progress is only possible with robust funding and public support. We can all contribute to this fight by sharing information about cancer programs and care, participating in research projects in the areas that help advance care, and donating to support scientists working on cancer research.
Giving Day at UT Health Science Center Tuesday is a chance to do that by contributing to the Cancer Discovery Fund or any other part of the UT Health Science Center mission. All gifts made on Giving Day, no matter the area they support, will be matched for the new Cancer Discovery Fund.
By sharing our time, our voices, and our resources, we send a clear message: Curing cancer is not a distant dream—it is a goal we can achieve together.
Cancer research is not just about science; it is about saving lives, reducing suffering, and ensuring a future where fewer families are torn apart by this disease. Every dollar spent, every trial conducted, and every discovery made brings us closer to a world where cancer is no longer a threat to humanity.
At some point in our lives, nearly 40% of us will be diagnosed with cancer. This is literally the fight of our lives. Cancer may be relentless, but so is our determination to conquer it. Together, we can make it happen.
To contribute to cancer research in our community, go to givingday.uthsc.edu/cancerresearch. Jessica Snowden is the Vice Chancellor for Research at UT Health Science Center.