First Lady Jill Biden promotes moonshot effort in visit to Charlotte’s Levine cancer center

First Lady Jill Biden came to Charlotte Friday to spread awareness about the Biden Cancer Moonshot program — a fight against a disease that claims the lives of over 600,000 Americans each year.

Biden, whose son Beau Biden died from cancer in 2015, visited Atrium Health Levine Cancer to talk about the Biden administration’s efforts to expand access to patient navigation services and financial challenges. She was joined by city officials and medical professionals, who shared stories about losing family members to cancer. She didn’t take questions from reporters during her visit, but she thanked the media for the coverage.

“It’s so important that we find a way to help families afford their cancer treatments and everything else that is involved,” Biden said about the associated expenses.

The Atrium Health Levine Cancer efforts include helping patients receive access to medical care, identifying needs and barriers such as transportation and food insecurities as well as providing resources for support. The program also provides financial assistance to help patients with hardships.

“We’re here because cancer is a thief,” said Dr. Ruben Mesa, president and executive director of the center. “It seals from our patients and their loved ones.”

The center is the largest cancer program in the Carolinas and one of the largest in the Southeast. It’s supported by research from the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center. This year marks its 50th as a Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Only 5% have that distinction for meeting high standards, Atrium officials said.

Meanwhile, the moonshot program wants to prevent more than 4 million cancer deaths by 2047 and to improve experiences of people impacted by cancer. It launched in 2016 during the Obama-Biden Administration and was reignited after Joe Biden was elected.

President Biden also formed the Cancer Cabinet with agencies from across the federal government and the National Cancer Institute.

First Lady Biden on Friday spoke about her son passing away from cancer at the age of 46 and having to find purpose.

“That’s the only way you can sort of take something that’s so horrible and so devastating and turn it into something good,” Biden said. “That’s what you done. So, I thank you for this.”

While praising the medical and financial efforts of Atrium, she spoke about being lucky to have access to really good care, while having private insurance.

“But so many people do not,” Biden said. “It just depletes their bank accounts.”

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, a breast cancer survivor, alluded Friday to positive changes in the way medical professionals think about cancer and how they’re working with patients.

“I’m just so grateful that our residents have the possibility to come to a place where they do have a support system,” Lyles said.

After visiting Charlotte, the First Lady flew to Nashville’s airport to participate in a political event in Franklin, Tenn.