According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 5,480 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each day in the United States. This statistic means that in 2024 alone, there will be over 2 million diagnoses, with breast cancer and prostate cancer topping the list.

But there is hope. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of cancer researchers, dramatic improvements have been made in all types of cancer and survival rates have increased in recent decades.

Why cancer research is important

When a person receives a diagnosis of cancer, it is a frightening and uncertain time for them and their loved ones. Clinical research can transform patients’ lives and have a huge impact on cancer care by offering new potential treatment options and hope for a longer life without the disease recurring.

The study of cancer, also called oncology, and ongoing cancer research enable the development of effective methods for detection, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. A better understanding of these diseases will help researchers make further progress in mitigating the enormous personal and economic burden that cancer causes in people’s lives.

Research provides comprehensive knowledge about biological processes that influence the causes of cancer, its growth and spread. Clinical cancer trials and breakthroughs and advances in cancer research are cyclical in nature and are based on previous observations and discoveries.

The impact of cancer research

Research Project Coordinator Kacie Flaherty is passionate about cancer research both professionally and personally. She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and is now approaching her fifth anniversary of no signs of the disease. Kacie is on the front lines of the stage 4 breast cancer community and sees first-hand how people rely on research and trials for life-saving hope. She is one of the many people behind the scenes who make clinical research possible.

“I’m in a unique position as both a cancer survivor and employed to conduct clinical trials for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center,” Flaherty says. “I’m highly motivated in my work because I know exactly what it’s like to sit on the other side and pray that that clinical trial will save your life. My journey has been difficult, and my journey will never end.”

Flaherty focuses on solid tumor oncology research across a variety of cancer types, and she sees each project through from the beginning to the end of the study. She hopes that the research she coordinates today will help people affected by cancer in the future.

“Every friend whose disease has progressed motivates me to work harder and to push for trials to continue moving forward,” Flaherty adds. “I hope that patients hoping for more time will have clinical trials available when they need them. I am committed to helping other cancer patients because if I can make one person’s journey easier by telling my story, showing myself and giving my time, it is worth my time.”

According to Flaherty, the scope and impact of the research can be wide-ranging and include, among other things:

• Giving newly diagnosed patients hope for less stressful treatments and treatments with a higher chance of success.
• We offer patients advanced cancer treatments that give them more time with fewer side effects and better symptom management.
• Offers you the opportunity to be among the first to try one of the latest medical advances as part of a treatment strategy.
• Work toward the goal of having no more symptoms of the disease after treatment.
• Learn more about the causes and progression of cancer.
• Embrace new, innovative treatments and therapies.
• Investigating new life-saving drugs and their interactions.
• Discover new or improved ways to relieve or alleviate symptoms.
• Use survival studies.
• Registry for long-term follow-up and future studies.
• Funding new cancer treatment trials that will benefit future patients.

“There’s a lot we don’t know in clinical trials,” Flaherty adds. “We always learn more from a trial, even if a new treatment didn’t work as expected or as effectively as hoped. No two stories are exactly the same and every patient is unique. It takes a lot of research to figure out what works.”

Advice for people recently diagnosed with cancer

Processing a new cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming and confusing. It takes time to understand what is happening and decide what steps to take next.

Flaherty strives every day to give hope to patients who have just been diagnosed with the disease or are still battling it. She offers patients some advice based on her personal and professional experiences.

• Be your own advocate. Fight for what you want. It’s your life and your decision how you proceed.
• Make sure you understand what is happening. Ask questions until you understand everything and get answers to your questions.
• Stick to your support system, especially others who have walked or are walking the same path as you.
• Consider a palliative care specialist. These are your quality of life doctors who will listen to you, help interpret information, answer questions, help you manage side effects, and explain the rationale behind treatment recommendations.
• If participating in a clinical research study is an option for you, it’s worth considering. You decide what you can and can’t do, and you can opt out at any time.
• When you participate in a clinical trial, you will always receive only the best possible standard of care.
• If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, don’t wait to do all the things you want to do. Make memories and do the things that matter to you.

Learn more

Get more information about Nebraska Medicine’s cancer clinical trials.

Find free help researching your condition.

Learn how researchers and physicians at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center are redefining the fight against cancer and changing lives.