"I'll also tell you that five hundred thousand people will die this year of cancer. And I'll also tell you that one in every four will be afflicted with this disease, and yet, somehow, we seem to have put it in a little bit of the background"

In this quote, Jim Valvano is highlighting the alarming data surrounding cancer and how it seems to have actually become normalized in society. He mentions that half a million people will lose their lives to cancer this year alone, and one in every 4 people will be affected by this disease. In spite of these staggering numbers, Valvano suggests that cancer has been pressed to the background and is not offered the attention and urgency it deserves. This could be due to a lack of awareness or a sense of helplessness in the face of such a widespread and terrible illness. Valvano's words function as a reminder to not overlook the severity of cancer and to continue defending a remedy.