Young adults are currently overlooked within lymphoma research. Each year enough young adults to fill Memorial Stadium are diagnosed with cancer. One in five of those young adults have lymphoma. Yet, young adult cancers don’t receive the same research funding as adult cancers, which means there are fewer young adult treatments and clinical trial opportunities to ensure young adults beat lymphoma. Unfortunately, this is not widely known or understood by college students or the public, presenting a significant need for an allocation of funds for research in this specific age group. 

Increased funding for organizations that specialize in young adult lymphoma research will allow every young adult with a lymphoma diagnosis access to the most advanced clinical trials and treatments possible. It is important that every person is able to have the best care. On behalf of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, which is working to increase awareness, research funding, and treatments for young adults with lymphoma, we, as the Huskers “1 is still 1” campaign with UNL Students Together Against Cancer (STAC), are asking college students to help us put a spotlight on how our age group is being overlooked. Our ask is that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) increase the allocation of funds to research young adult lymphoma. The NIH can also support all young adults with cancer by creating a standalone young adult cancer research category (similar to the NIH’s pediatric cancer category) that allows the public to see how much the NIH allocates to young adult cancers, including lymphoma. 

The Lymphoma Research Foundation is “1” of the few organizations leading research and advocacy to erase lymphoma from college campuses. STAC is “1” of the groups that is elevating cancer issues on UNL’s campus. Signing this “1 is Still 1” petition will stop young adult lymphoma from being overlooked AND increase needed research funding for young adult lymphoma. Thank you!