In 1991, the National Breast Cancer Coalition demanded that the federal government spend $300 million more on breast cancer research. This push resulted in the creation of the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, which has broadened to 34 other diseases with an FY24 budget of $1.5 billion.
Now, 33 years later, through the continuing resolution passed March 14, funding for CDMRP was cut by 57%, compared to FY24 levels.
CDMPR slashed more than half of its programs, leaving only 12 programs funded in FY25.
The Breast Cancer Research Program is facing a $20 million cut, dropping from $150 million in FY24 to $130 million in FY25.
A story about the funding cut can be found in this issue.
Back in 1991, professional societies, NIH, and NCI deemed $300 million in breast cancer research funding “an outlandish figure.” Still, NBCC continued to push for the funding.
By routing the money through DOD, a new—and sometimes controversial—research program was born. Some argued, particularly within NIH, that this funding should follow more traditional and established pathways. The Cancer Letter tracked the ensuing turf war in real time, all the way to NBCC’s victory and, later, the victory of other patient advocates.
They didn’t do it by simply, politely, and softly knocking on a door and saying, ‘If you wouldn’t mind.’ They did it by laying a case for why they needed more money, and then demanding that, and collaborating with scientists to make certain that message got through to Congress.
Fran Visco
How 1960s activism shaped the movement that resulted in the DOD breast cancer program
By the Cancer History Project, Sept. 10, 2021
Fran Visco never asked for $300 million in breast cancer research funding—she demanded it.
An activist of the 1960s, Visco, president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, changed the landscape of funding for breast cancer research during her 1992 testimony in front of Congress.
“We took a lesson from AIDS activists, and we made a case for why $300 million more was the right number,” Visco said to The Cancer Letter. “They didn’t do it by simply, politely, and softly knocking on a door and saying, ‘If you wouldn’t mind.’ They did it by laying a case for why they needed more money, and then demanding that, and collaborating with scientists to make certain that message got through to Congress.”
At the time, professional societies, NIH, and NCI deemed $300 million in breast cancer research funding “an outlandish figure.”
Visco wasn’t going to achieve NBCC’s goal by going the traditional route of snooze-worthy testimony. She realized this on the train to Washington from Philadelphia, where she was unimpressed with the prepared remarks from NBCC.
“It was very traditional testimony about why we needed more money for breast cancer research,” she said. “I’m an activist from the sixties, women’s rights, anti-war. It just didn’t ring well with me.”
On the train, Visco revised these remarks. “To sit there and just politely ask ‘If you wouldn’t mind,’ that was not my world.”
The testimony itself was for what was known as “Disease Day” on Capitol Hill. “Organization after organization [was] going up and asking for money for research, for their particular issue,” Visco recalled recently. “It was all very polite. It was: ‘We understand that it’s difficult, but if you could see your way through, we would like level funding.’”
A full conversation with Visco is available on the Cancer History Project.
Advocacy in Action: The DOD Breast Cancer Research Program
By National Breast Cancer Coalition, Sept. 2, 2021
At first glance, the Department of Defense and breast cancer research might not seem like an easy or natural fit.
And that’s just how the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) would have it. NBCC is an organization that pushes against the status quo, so finding innovative solutions to complicated problems is a hallmark of their work. The Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (DOD BCRP) is an example of how NBCC advocates pushed boundaries to pursue critical research funding and changes to the system of research that incorporate advocates and support meaningful results.
Understanding that significant federal funding would be a requirement to make meaningful progress in the fight to end breast cancer, in 1991, NBCC conducted a “$300 Million More Campaign”, which called on Congress to fund breast cancer research. Advocates from across the country voiced their support and despite pushback from some Members of Congress, and a challenging legislative process, NBCC persevered. In response to NBCC’s campaign in 1992, the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (DOD BCRP) was established.
Video: An Armchair Discussion with Fran Visco on NBCC’s History
By National Breast Cancer Coalition, Sept. 7, 2022
The National Breast Cancer Coalition’s 2022 Advocate Leadership Summit included a special armchair discussion with NBCC president Fran Visco. Paul Goldberg, editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter sat down with Fran to interview her about NBCC’s history.
Watch the video on the Cancer History Project.
Selected coverage in The Cancer Letter
- Breast Cancer Coalition to Congress: ‘Find a Way To Fund The War,’ Bypass Level Is Not Enough, Aug. 7, 1992
- Senate Committee To Debate Budget Bill Sept. 10; Increase Expected For Breast Cancer Research, Sept. 4, 1992
- Senate Bill Matches 42.01 Billion Bush request For NCI, Sets Bypass Funding For Breast Cancer, Sept. 18, 1992
- In Congress; Senate Ok’s $185 Mil. Addition For Breast Cancer, Oct. 2, 1992
- Conferees Set $1.991 Bil. NCI Budget, Ax Earmark For Breast Cancer, But Find $210 Mil. In Defense, Oct. 9, 1992
- Army Will Outspend NCI In Breast Cancer In FY93, But How To Apply For a Grant?, Oct. 16, 1992
- Breast Cancer Activist, Radiologist Are Added To Special Commission, Nov. 6, 1992
- DOD Should Transfer Part of Breast Cancer $$ To NIH For Peer Distribution, Broder Says, Dec. 4, 1992
- “We Want Our Voices To Be Heard” Coalition Tells NCAB; Seeks Seats On Advisory Board, Jan. 1, 1993
- IOM To Advise Army On Spending $210 Mil. Breast Cancer Money, Jan. 8, 1993
- Activists To Seek $660 Million For Breast Cancer Research, Legislation To Declare An “Epidemic”, Feb. 12, 1993
- Army Hopes To Fund “Middle-Risk, high Payoff” Research With Breast Cancer money, Travis Says, Feb. 19, 1993
- Cancer Funding To Defense Dept. Is Threat To National Cancer Program, Broder Says, March 5, 1993
- General Says HHS Shift of Breast Cancer funds Could Leave Army in “Untenable Position”, March 12, 1993
- In Brief: Clinton Appoints Breast Cancer coalition’s Fran Visco to President’s Cancer Panel, May 21, 1993
- Breast Cancer Coalition Seeks Continued DOD Funding For Research, July 2, 1993
- Army Accepting Letters of Intent For Research in Breast Cancer; Plans Announcement In Sept., July 16, 1993
- More Than 3,000 Letters If Intent Sent To Army For Breast Programs, Sept. 10, 1993
- Competing Strategies For Breast Cancer? Brinker Tries to Ensure acceptance Of Report, Visco Urges Broad Effort, Oct. 8, 1993
- DOD To Reimburse Care On Clinical Trials In Three-Year Deal, Feb. 9, 1996
- NCI-DOD Agreement Could Be Model For Similar Project With HCFA, Lee Says, March 8, 1996
- Senate Committee Proposes $100 Million DOD Prostate Cancer Research Program, July 12, 1996
- Conference Bill Includes Funding For DOD For Breast, Prostate, Ovarian Cancer, Oct. 4, 1996
- In Congress: Senate Committee Provides Increase To DOD Program, Aug. 1, 1997
- Federal Funding: IOM Report Praises DOD Breast Cancer Research Program, Aug. 15, 1997
- DOD Seeks to Fund Innovative Research In 438 Million Prostate Cancer Program, Aug. 22, 1997
- In Congress: $135 Million Expected For DOD Breast Cancer Research Program, July 24, 1998
- In Congress: Senate Passes Bill For DOD Medical Research Funding, Aug. 14, 1998
- In Brief: Visco Elected Chairman of DOD Panel; Breast Cancer Stamp Raises $4.9 Million, Feb. 19, 1999
- DOD Bill Passes Senate; Prostate Cancer Gets $75 Mil.; Breast Cancer Receives $175 Mil.,June 25, 1999
- In Congress: DOD Cancer Research Programs Increased; Senate Passes NIH Funding Bill; Porter Won’t Seek Re-election, Oct. 22, 1999
- NCI Program: DOD’s TRICARE To Cover Patient Costs In NCI Prevention, Early detection Trials, Sept. 10, 1999
- Blood Cancers Advocacy Groups Seek DOD And NCI Funds, Medicare Coverage, July 6, 2001
- House DoD Report Provides $15 Million For Lung Cancer Screening, Oct. 23, 2009
This column features the latest posts to the Cancer History Project by our growing list of contributors.
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