Dr Potters on the Significance of World Cancer Day

“In some ways, every day is World Cancer Day, but it does give us an opportunity and an inflection point to highlight things [such as] early detection and screening and the importance of being able to get that information out into the community. It helps us think about reducing the stigma of cancer, the diagnosis, the effects of treatment, and the effects on survivors.”

Louis Potters, MD, FASTRO, FABS, FACR, the chair of the Department of Radiation Medicine, as well as senior vice president and deputy physician-in-chief of Northwell Cancer Institute, discussed the significance of World Cancer Day, which is celebrated annually on February 4th.

World Cancer Day offers oncologists an opportunity to highlight important aspects of cancer care that can often be unheralded such as early detection, screening, and disseminating accurate information to the community, Potters began. The day also provides a platform to reduce the stigma of cancer and the effects of treatment on survivors, he continued. Another important aspect of the cancer care landscape that should be emphasized is the role of equitable access to care, both in the United States and globally, he underscored.

The importance of research funding should also be noted, Potters said. He added that Congress is expected to provide a small increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), pushing back against the more than 40% budget cuts that were proposed by the Trump administration. He emphasized that the gains achieved through investigators’ work in clinical trials should not go unnoticed. Investigators should feel pride in the work that has been done in clinical trials, and this work needs to continue, Potters concluded.

Within the Department of Radiation Medicine at Northwell Cancer Institute, Potters has participated in the development of approximately 170 treatment pathways or “directives” which are designed to reduce variability, improve safety, and enhance the consistent delivery of radiation therapy, aligning with the mission of World Cancer Day to improve access to high-quality cancer care.