Queens Celebrates Cancer Survivors, Calls for Research Funds

Cancer survivors across Queens came together on June 29 to celebrate their strength and sound the alarm on threats to the research that keeps them alive.

The Arts4All Foundation partnered with NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens and the Queens Cancer Center to honor National Cancer Survivors Month. The event recognized six survivors and the medical teams who support them through every stage of their journey.

Dr. Sumita SenGupta, who organized the event, highlighted a troubling reality behind the celebration. While more than 18 million Americans now live with cancer, recent federal budget cuts have slashed funding for oncology research and clinical trials.

The cuts have hit local institutions hard. The Queens Cancer Center, one of Queens Hospital's four Centers of Excellence, faces reduced resources even as approximately 10,900 Queens residents receive cancer diagnoses each year. Cancer remains the borough's second leading cause of death.

Dr. Ellen Hagopian, director of the Queens Cancer Center, emphasized that her team treats survivorship as beginning at diagnosis, not after treatment ends. "We make healthcare equity, comprehensive treatment, and wellness a priority to support patients, families, and their caregivers every step of the way," she said.

The event featured presentations from oncology specialists on cancer prevention, early detection, and the latest research advances. Doctors Tarun Wasil and Jagmohan Kalra shared insights on how early screening saves lives and how caregivers can support survivors during remission.

The Ripple Effect

More than 1.2 million cancer survivors live in New York State, each representing a family touched by the disease and a community transformed by their journey. Organizations like SHAREing and CAREing, founded by two-time breast cancer survivor Anna Kril, ensure survivors receive the emotional, financial, and community support that extends far beyond the hospital.

Local elected officials attended to show their commitment to expanding cancer resources and improving patient access to care. Their presence signals that the fight for research funding has support across party lines.

Federal investment has driven every major advance in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment over the past decades. The survivors honored at this event represent the success of that investment and the urgent need to protect it.

This community is turning celebration into action, ensuring that future cancer patients have the same chance at survival that today's survivors fought so hard to achieve.