Cancer PatientS Treatment Delayed ⁣Due to NIH Cuts

⁤ Updated May 28, 2025

Natalie Phelps, 43, ⁢a mother of two battling ⁢stage 4⁣ colorectal cancer, is facing critical delays in her treatment⁢ because of funding cuts to the National Institutes of⁣ Health (NIH). These cuts, initiated by the ⁣Trump management, are impacting clinical trials and patient care.

Phelps has ‍publicly voiced concerns about the ⁤setback in her treatment and the impact on others in similar clinical trials. Her situation has gained attention, leading ‍to congressional hearings and‍ a dispute involving Sen. ⁢Pat⁢ murray, D-Wash., and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Phelps’ treatment was initially scheduled to begin in mid-June but⁤ has been postponed until after mid-July.She expressed her frustration, stating that she ‍has tired all available options, given the limited treatments available for ⁣colorectal cancer.

The NIH’s Dr. Steven Rosenberg’s cell-based immunotherapy trial offered Phelps hope.This⁣ treatment uses ⁢a patient’s own cells to combat cancer and has ‍shown promise for colon, rectal, and⁤ GI ‍cancers.⁣ Though, Rosenberg‍ confirmed that staff reductions have caused delays, impacting patients like Phelps.

Phelps⁤ completed the initial steps for the trial in March and traveled to Bethesda, Md., in April for blood work⁤ to engineer T-cells for her treatment. The expected four-week turnaround was extended to eight ⁣weeks due to funding cuts.

Phelps said ⁢the delay caused her considerable anxiety, as her cancer ⁢progressed rapidly between March and April.Her oncologist also expressed concern about the potential impact of the extended wait time.

Sen. Murray ⁤questioned Kennedy⁢ about the NIH staff cuts during a Senate hearing, sharing Phelps’ story. Kennedy initially claimed no cuts had been made to clinical trials but later stated that Phelps was “medically ineligible” for the ⁤trial, a claim Phelps disputes.

Phelps said that she met all criteria except for a final scan ⁤to confirm her tumor size. the scan, conducted⁣ after the hearing, showed her tumor had grown⁤ large enough‍ to qualify.

“It’s ‍been so much extra stress… Cancer just shouldn’t be political,” Phelps said.

Kennedy reiterated his ⁢stance in a subsequent⁣ hearing, prompting Murray to state that⁤ her staff remained in contact with NIH and ⁤FDA staff to assist with⁤ Phelps’ case.Murray ‍also pressed for answers regarding the number of NIH clinical staff who had been terminated.

An HHS spokesperson⁢ stated ⁣that cancer research⁤ remains a high priority for the NIH and HHS, adding that there have been no cuts to clinical trials. However,‍ Rosenberg confirmed that staff cuts and purchasing⁣ slowdowns had delayed care for two patients.

Rosenberg told the Cancer Letter that nearly all trial patients were ⁢experiencing a month-long delay due to a “loss of technicians.” He also ⁤noted that the number of patients they could treat ⁤had⁢ been reduced by about half.

as of last week,phelps was told she had⁢ a spot in the queue,but her treatment was‍ pushed back to July ⁣21. The NIH told her the agency tried to hire back staff, but it hasn’t worked out.

“I have ⁤nothing to lose at this point. I’m pleading for my life. I’m begging for help,” ‍Phelps said.

What’s next

Phelps continues to wait for confirmation of her treatment start date, hoping the agency can expedite⁢ the ⁣process. The situation highlights⁣ the real-world consequences of ⁣NIH funding cuts⁢ on⁣ cancer research and patient access to potentially life-saving treatments.