Doctors, Survivors Encouraged By President Obama's Push To Cure Cancer
(CBS) -- President Barack Obama used his final State of the Union address to make a new push towards curing cancer.
But how likely is a cure and could that cure be found here in Chicago? CBS 2's Sandra Torres went to find out.
At 68-years-old, Alford Thomas is thankful to be alive.
"I'm still here," he said. "I could've been gone, but I'm still here."
He's still spending quality time with his wife even after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2009.
Three years ago, doctors at University of Chicago told him chemotherapy was not working, so they offered him a clinical trial that saved his life.
"I could die or live," Thomas said. "I chose to live."
That's why President Obama's announcement of a new national effort to cure cancer resonated well with Mr. Thomas.
"Obama said that he will do this," he said. "I think he will do it."
And researchers at the University of Chicago agree.
"The fact this is now getting attention at highest levels of government really creates sense of excitement," said Dr. Walter Stadler of University of Chicago Medicine.
Vice President Joe Biden will be in charge of the effort, one that many find necessary.
"Cancer researchers rely on the national government for the bulk of our funding and funding has been flat for 10 years," said Dr. Michelle Le Beau of the University of Chicago Cancer Center.
And while it's unclear what the future holds for this type of research, many are optimistic for patients like Mr. Thomas.
"I think it's a great possibility that Chicago will be the place where a number of cures for cancer," said Dr. Le Beau.
Dr. Michelle LeBeau's sister is an executive producer at CBS 2.
Dr. Le Beau says for every person in the U.S., only about $8.40 of your tax dollars goes to cancer research and that's a small amount considering the impact cancer has.