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Marking World Cancer Day

​​​​​​As reported in our Global Cancer Facts & Figures last year by our Surveillance and Health Equity Science team, the global cancer burden is expected to grow by approximately 80% in the next three decades solely due to the growing and aging of the population. The future burden is likely to be greater than projected because of the adoption of Western lifestyles associated with cancer such an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. On Feb. 4, the American Cancer Society joins organizations across the globe in uniting around World Cancer Day to make an impact on the growing cancer burden. 

Planned efforts are underway by our Discovery and Patient Support Pillars: 
  • ​With Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute, our Discovery Pillar led the first of a now annual Cancer Prevention Conference​
  • Expanding training for health care workers on the importance of HPV vaccination. 
  • Continuing to grow our network of patient navigation
  • Extending the scope of our African Cancer Coalition
  • Continue research capacity-building work in parts of Africa. 
  • ​​​Release of the fourth edition of The Cancer Atlas
  • Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development goal for 2025, Global Cancer Support will grow our collaborative partnerships worldwide to improve equitable patient access to prevention, screening, cancer treatment, and higher quality health systems and better-trained health care providers through new initiatives: 
    • ​​Launch of the Global Alliance for Cancer Patient Navigation — ACS will lead a global collaborative to unify global principles surrounding patient navigation implementation and capacity development while building awareness of navigation’s vital benefit to patients, caregivers and health systems throughout the world.
    • ​Launch of the ACS Global Academy — ACS will leverage the growing network of worldwide collaborating partners, including our growing Global Relay for Life network, Global Heroes of Hope, and other cancer organizations and civil society partners to deliver technical expertise for unified and collaborative global initiatives.
Learn more about ACS’ work around the world – and be sure to check out The Cancer Atlas, which includes an interactive online resource where you can discover more by country or trend.​

  • Cancer prevention starts with risk reduction

    ACS will launch its new comprehensive cancer risk assessment tool, ACS CancerRisk360, in February, National Cancer Prevention Month, to help people understand their personal cancer risk factors and steps they can take to reduce that risk. The tool evaluates risk by looking at four key areas: genetic risk, family history, screening adherence, and daily life factors. By better assessing and empowering individuals to take actionable steps based on their personal cancer risk information, we can improve outcomes, including preventing cancer. 

    Building on our long-standing relationship with Pfizer, including the most recent Change the Odds effort, and a long history of support for cancer screening initiatives, we’re once again collaborating to amplify the reach of our ACS CancerRisk360 assessment tool. Beginning in February, the ACS CancerRisk360 will be featured in the Pfizer for All campaign, connecting people directly to resources for better health. This collaboration will help amplify our reach and drive the utilization of the tool.

    Approximately 40% of adult cancer diagnoses in the US are linked to modifiable risk factors. Cancer risk is dependent on several factors, including genetic/hereditary markers, family history of cancer, adherence to evidence-based cancer screening guidelines, and daily life factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity, and body weight/BMI. While some cancers can’t be prevented, people can reduce their risk by making healthy choices like eating a healthy diet, staying active, and not smoking. 

    What the tool is not: 

    • A risk calculator 
    • A medical device 
    • A replacement for a visit with a doctor or other healthcare professional
    • A research tool/project 

    Team members are encouraged to check your cancer risk at: ACSCancerRisk360.cancer.org. ​

    ​Get Involved

    Research shows that nearly half of all cancers can be linked to risk factors you can change. You can help by: 

    • Take the ACS CancerRisk360 assessment to learn more about what you can change to improve your health and lower your cancer risk.
    • Encourage your network to take the assessment. 
    • Spread the word about the tool by amplifying ACS social media posts in February. ​

  • ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable honored

    ​The ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable (ACS HPVRT) has been recognized with a prestigious Digital Health Award from the Digital Health Association for its resource, Cancer Prevention Through HPV Vaccination: An Action Guide for Health Plans.

    This comprehensive guide, designed to assist health plans in advancing HPV vaccination rates, earned a Silver Award in the Web-based Resource/Tool category, thereby contributing to preventing HPV-related cancers. By outlining seven Action Items, the tool empowers health plans to increase HPV vaccination and work toward eliminating HPV cancers for future generations.

    The annual Digital Health Awards celebrates the best digital health resources developed for consumers and health professionals. Organized by the Health Information Resource Center (HIRC), the program highlights innovative tools that excel in content quality, design, creativity, and user experience. This year’s awards were determined by a panel of 54 experts in digital health media who reviewed nearly 400 entries.

    The American Cancer Society National HPV Vaccination Roundtable (ACS HPVRT) was established in 2014, in partnership with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The ACS HPVRT is a national coalition of 100+ member organizations on a mission to reduce the incidence of and mortality from HPV-associated cancers through coordinated leadership, strategic planning, and advocacy. The American Cancer Society provides organizational leadership and expert team member support to the ACS HPVRT.

    The ACS roundtables are a recommended and proven model for creating sustained partnerships across diverse sectors and communities to address the most complex problems across the cancer continuum collaboratively. ACS provides organizational leadership and expertise to support the roundtables and their members in their efforts to further a shared vision of giving all people an equal opportunity to prevent and survive cancer.


  • ACS NLCRT Annual Meeting saw record attendance

    Between Dec. 9-10, more than 350 lung cancer experts, clinicians, advocates, researchers, and healthcare & public health leaders from across the nation convened in Atlanta, GA for the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable (ACS NLCRT) Annual Meeting.

    This year’s ACS NLCRT meeting saw record attendance. Through the lens of "Public Health and Health Equity in Lung Cancer," participants shared ideas, innovations, and strategies for achieving their shared goal of creating more lung cancer survivors.

    Presenters covered a wide range of topics, including:

    • Lung cancer risk factors and treatment
    • The importance of patient navigation
    • State-based initiatives and grassroots advocacy
    • The role and future of artificial intelligence across the lung cancer continuum
    • Updates on ACS NLCRT and member organization initiatives

    On Day 1, Chris Pernell, MD, MPH, FACPM, director of the NAACP Center for Health Equity, delivered the Dr. Edith P. Mitchell Health Equity and Lung Cancer Keynote. Dr. Pernell shared her thoughts on “Designing the Ecosystem for Health Equity and Racial Justice." 

    On Day 2, Pasi Jänne, MD, PhD, delivered a keynote presentation on advancements in lung cancer treatment. Dr. Jänne is senior vice president for Translational Medicine & Director of the Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and recipient of the 2024 ACS Medal of Honor.

    Ella Kazerooni, MD, MS, FACR, FABI, pictured at right, was presented with the ACS Volunteer Leadership Award, the highest honor given to volunteers. As the inaugural chair of the ACS NLCRT, Dr. Kazerooni has been instrumental in shaping the roundtable’s direction and driving its expansive growth. Pictured above are, left to right, ACS Senior Vice President, Cancer Screening, Dr. Bob Smith, Strategic Director of the ACS National Lung Cancer Roundtable Lauren Rosenthal, Dr. Kazerooni, and ACS Chief Patient Officer Dr. Arif Kamal.

    Many thanks to the ACS NLCRT team for making this meeting possible, including Lauren Rosenthal, Hannah Burson, Korey Hoffman, and Kenly Burn. 

  • Project HEALTH tackles systemic barriers in cancer care

    ​​Health disparities in cancer care continue to affect millions of lives. Addressing these inequities requires bold, scalable solutions, and health tech startups are uniquely positioned to lead the charge. To meet these challenges, BrightEdge, ACS’ impact investment and innovation arm has launched Project HEALTH, a new accelerator program combining financial investment, strategic mentorship, and curated education sessions to empower selected health tech startups. 

    Project HEALTH enables innovators to tackle systemic barriers in cancer care, leveraging ACS’ expertise in the social drivers of health to empower entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions that improve access to care and promote equitable health care delivery. The program is a partnership between ACS BrightEdge and ScaleHealth, a healthcare innovation marketplace that connects customers across the health industry with solutions. 

    “Project HEALTH blends the strengths of the American Cancer Society and BrightEdge, representing more than just a financial commitment to innovative companies,” said Steve Curtis, senior director of new ventures at BrightEdge. “By not only investing in, but actively cultivating and enabling a pipeline of cutting-edge solutions across the cancer care continuum, we are propelling progress toward a future where the burden of cancer is lessened for people facing cancer, their loved ones, and our communities.” 

    Leveraging the combined strengths of ACS BrightEdge and ScaleHealth, Project HEALTH offers:

    • Direct investment to further innovation development
    • Tailored educational sessions that address the challenges of cancer care innovation
    • Mentorship from leading experts in health tech and o​​ncology, providing the guidance needed to navigate the complexities of health equity work​

    If you know a company ready to drive meaningful change, encourage them to apply here.

    ​Applications are open now until January 31, 2025. With just five spots available, the program is designed to provide personalized support and foster close collaboration among a select group of health tech innovators committed to advancing equity in cancer care.​​​

  • January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

    January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and we have an opportunity to engage audiences to learn more about cervical cancer prevention and screening. 

    About 14,000 new cases of cervical cancer were estimated to be diagnosed in the US during 2024 and more than 4,000 women were expected to die from the disease. Almost all cervical cancers are caused by persistent infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). According to the ACS National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer (ACS NRTCC), about 50% of cervical cancer diagnoses are in never screened people.

    ACS is encouraging screening through the I Love You Get Screened marketing campaign in January. Regular cervical cancer screening can find and remove pre-cancers before they become cancer. ACS recommends cervical cancer screening starting at age 25.

    ​ACS also recommends HPV vaccination to help prevent six types of cancer. Children should start the HPV vaccination series at age 9 and complete the two-dose series by age 12. Children and young adults ages 13 through 26 years who have not been vaccinated or who have not received all of their shots should get the vaccine as soon as possible. 

    Cervical cancer mortality rates have dropped by more than half since the mid-1970s because of prevention and early detection through screening. ACS currently funds 15 multi-year cervical cancer research grants totaling more than $16.47 million (as of December 2024). In addition, ACS has been involved in efforts to improve screening rates and promote HPV vaccination: 

    For more information on HPV, visit cancer.org/hpv. For more information on screening for cervical cancer, visit cancer.org/getscreened

  • Kael Reicin speaks at CNBC CFO Council Summit

    Chief Finance and Strategy Officer Kael Reicin joined a panel discussion focused on the evolving cost of corporate benefits at the CNBC CFO Council Summit in Washington, D.C., this week. The panel discussed how rising healthcare costs are increasing pressure on employers, employees, and companies' bottom lines. Kael, pictured above at far right, underscored the importance of early detection and prevention in keeping the cost of cancer treatment down and urged employers to make cancer screening a priority in the workplace and help reduce any barriers to screening they may be facing.

    The CNBC CFO Council is a members-only council that provides peer-to-peer connections, and convenes to address pressing issues facing Chief Financial Officers today.

    The other panelists were Ochsner Health Vice President, CFO, and Treasurer Jim Molloy, pictured above in the middle, and Pacific Life CFO Vibhu Sharma, pictured above, second from left. The moderator was CNBC Correspondent Megan Cassella, pictured above at far left.

  • ACS to offer clinical trials navigation certificate in 2025

    On Nov. 21, in support of President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative, ACS announced that it will offer a first-of-its-kind Clinical Trials Navigation certificate for professionals providing nonclinical navigation services in 2025. This expansion of ACS’ existing Leadership in Oncology Navigation (ACS LION) program represents a significant step forward as ACS contributes to a multi-year effort driven by the Biden Cancer Moonshot to expand access to high-quality navigation services for patients and their families navigating treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses. Pictured above are, from left to right, Dr. Shanthi Sivendran, senior vice president, Cancer Treatment Support; Dr. Bonny Morris, vice president, Navigation; Dr. Harold Freeman, the father of patient navigation, and Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer.

    Clinical trials are critical to the development and advancement of new treatments for cancer; however, nearly 20% of cancer clinical trials are unsuccessful due to lack of patient participation. While approximately 70% of American cancer patients are inclined or willing to engage in clinical trials, only 3% to 6% of eligible cancer patients participate, given trial recruitment, enrollment, and retention barriers. 

    To address these barriers and increase access to innovative clinical trial research, the new ACS LION Clinical Trials Certificate, available in January 2025, will equip professionals providing navigation services with the knowledge and skills to make clinical trials more accessible to patients. The enhanced support from patient navigators will enable more patients to gain access to potentially lifesaving treatments and resources.


    “Access to clinical trials can play a crucial role in a patient’s cancer journey by providing new treatment options that wouldn’t otherwise be available. Patient navigators can help ensure patients have equitable access to clinical trials, but more training is needed to standardize how professionals guide patients through the complexities of the healthcare system,” said Wayne A.  I. Frederick, MD, MBA, interim chief executive officer.  “ACS is proud to support the Biden Cancer Moonshot by leveraging our experience and scale to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.” 

    “For over 30 years, ACS has led the way in establishing the field of navigation. ACS has funded dedicated provider and patient programs, developed training curricula, and united collaborators through the ACS National Navigation Roundtable,” said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer. “By continuing to empower professional navigators, in active partnership with oncology providers and the cancer community, we can create more opportunities for patients and their families to access these critical services, helping them make informed treatment decisions and ultimately resulting in better outcomes.”  

    ACS LION was launched in January 2024 following the change by CMS to cover non​clinical services related to patient navigation, a widely recognized intervention that helps individuals, caregivers, and families through cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Achieving consistent, reliable cancer navigation nationwide requires standardization of training that adheres to best practices. 

    Pictured above, Dr. Sivendran, seated second from right, participated in a panel discussion at the White House Navigation Summit.

  • ACS NCCRT Annual Meeting convened hundreds

    ​​Between Nov. 20 - 22, more than 250 colorectal cancer experts, thought leaders, and advocates from across the nation convened in Fort Worth, TX for the American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (ACS NCCRT) Annual Meeting

    This year’s ACS NCCRT meeting saw record attendance, with attendees hailing from more than 225 member organizations. Participants shared ideas, innovations, and strategies for achieving their shared goal of reaching colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates of 80% in every community. 

    Presenters covered a wide range of topics, including: 

    • Trends in colorectal cancer screening rates 
    • Actions to promote health equity 
    • Updates on early-age onset disease 
    • Advances in colorectal cancer treatment 
    • Profiles of success from community health centers and health systems 

    The ACS NCCRT also engaged participants in identifying opportunities and strategizing around how the roundtable can improve outcomes across the colorectal cancer continuum beyond its historical focus on screening.​


    Lisa C. Richardson, MD, MPH, was presented with the ACS NCCRT Distinguished National Leadership Award by ACS NCCRT Chair, Dr. Steven Itzkowitz. As Director of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and an ACS NCCRT Steering Committee member, Dr. Richardson has been at the forefront of advancing cancer screening across the nation. 

    Many thanks to the ACS NCCRT team for making this meeting possible, including Kaitlin SylvesterEmily Bell, and Aubree Thelen.  

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