Biden, Who Lost Son to Cancer, Pledges to Halve Cancer Death Rate Over Next 25 Years

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Seulgina Jo] U.S. President Joe Biden has set a goal to reduce the cancer mortality rate in the United States by at least half over the next 25 years. President Biden has experienced the pain of losing his eldest son, Beau Biden, to brain cancer.

According to the Associated Press, on the 2nd (local time), President Biden delivered a related speech in the East Room of the White House alongside First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The event was attended by members of Congress, the administration, cancer patients and their families, related organizations, academia, and members of the cancer community. This is in line with the 'Cancer Moonshot Project' announced five years ago when Biden was Vice President.

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 1.9 million new cancer cases and 600,000 cancer deaths this year. The AP reported that President Biden's goal is to save more than 300,000 lives annually. Considering that the cancer mortality rate, which was 200 per 100,000 people 20 years ago, has decreased by about 25% to 146 currently, the administration believes this is entirely feasible.

Accordingly, President Biden plans to form a 'Cancer Cabinet' including 18 federal agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Energy. He also intends to expand cancer screenings and improve equity in access to treatment. However, no separate funding commitments were made. It is estimated that about 9.5 million people missed cancer screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AP stated, "This is also a very personal matter for President Biden," adding, "Having lost his eldest son Beau Biden to brain cancer in 2015, President Biden aims to reduce cancer mortality by 50% over the next 25 years. Many Americans share the pain that President Biden has experienced."

Previously, former President Barack Obama announced a project in 2016, his last year in office, to invest $1.8 billion in cancer research. At that time, Obama appointed then-Vice President Biden as the head of the initiative, which the media noted was intended to support Biden, who was grieving the loss of his son. President Biden also revealed in his memoir that the reason he did not run in the 2016 presidential primary was due to his son's death.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.