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Tobacco Atlas, Sixth Edition, now available in Spanish

Nearly 70 million smokers in Latin America are at risk of tobacco-related death and disease

Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans continue to die every year from tobacco-related disease, according to the American Cancer Society and Vital Strategies, co-publishers of the Tobacco Atlas, Sixth Edition, now available in Spanish. 

While the proportion of the population who use tobacco has nearly halved across the region thanks to strong tobacco control policies in some countries, the region is seeing an increase in tobacco-related deaths, to more than 300,000 in 2016. Governments can reduce the associated health, economic, and social burden of tobacco use for generations to come by implementing proven life-saving policies as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Every death from tobacco is preventable, and every government has the power to reduce the human and economic toll of the tobacco epidemic,” said Jeffrey Drope, PhD, co-editor and author of The Atlas and our scientific vice president of economic and health policy research. “Countries like Brazil and Uruguay have significantly reduced smoking rates, but prevalence is increasing in countries where governments have failed to act. These countries are often among the region’s most economically challenged. Increases in the health and financial burden of smoking will further harm their economies and opportunities for sustainable development. Policymakers need to resist the tobacco industry’s influence and implement strong policies to avoid this fate.”

According to the Tobacco Atlas, only two countries in the region - Argentina and Chile - have implemented tobacco taxes at levels recommended by the WHO, which are proven to be the single most effective way to reduce tobacco use. Tobacco industry tactics, including interfering in policymaking and aggressively promoting flavored tobacco products to hook youth, are impeding greater progress in reducing the burden of tobacco.

“From cultivation to disposal, tobacco causes health and environmental harm at every stage of its life cycle,” said Neil Schluger, MD, senior advisor for science at Vital Strategies and co-editor and author of The Tobacco Atlas. “It is linked to an ever-increasing list of diseases, burdening health systems and exacerbating poverty. It also harms non-smokers, especially women and children exposed to second-hand smoke, and tobacco workers who risk developing nicotine poisoning caused by skin contact with tobacco leaf. Regional leaders have enacted proven and new strategies to reduce tobacco use, like high taxes, large graphic warnings and bans on additives. We hope their efforts embolden other leaders to follow their example.”

Almost all countries in Latin America are signatories to the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the global health treaty which requires them to enact proven measures to reduce tobacco use, but no country in the region has enacted all these measures at the highest level of achievement. Regional leaders and examples of best practices include:

  • Uruguay, which nearly halved smoking prevalence from 40% in 2006 to 21.6% in 2017, is a global leader in the adoption of large graphic warnings and limiting tobacco brand variants

  • Brazil, which has implemented progressively stronger tobacco control policies to more than halve smoking prevalence since 1980

  • Panama, which implemented a model policy to ban tobacco marketing

  • Colombia, which implemented and enforced comprehensive smokefree laws and

  • Argentina and Chile, which are the only countries in the region currently taxing tobacco at the highest level recommended by WHO. 

In Colombia, where cigarettes were comparatively cheap, tax increases introduced in 2016 led to a 15 percent reduction in the number of smokers.

In Mexico, a recent national health survey found a slight increase in smoking rates in spite of the government implementing a national quitline, cessation resources and large graphic warnings on tobacco packs. This suggests that Mexico needs to adopt a stronger and more comprehensive tobacco control policy.

Tobacco use is increasing in countries that have not adopted strong tobacco control policies, and the tobacco industry continues to aggressively target the region, especially its youth. Urgent action is needed in countries where youth smoking is increasing, like Suriname, where youth smoking increased from 13.5% in 1990 to 20.3% in 2015 and Guatemala, where youth smoking increased from 7.6% in 1990 to 11.2% in 2015.

About the Tobacco Atlas: Sixth Edition

The Tobacco Atlas compiles, validate,s and interprets global- and country-level data from multiple sources to present the best and most recent evidence, and build a holistic and accurate picture of the tobacco industry’s activities, tobacco use, and tobacco control across the globe. In print and online at tobaccoatlas.org - where policy makers, public health practitioners, advocates and journalists may interact with the data - The Tobacco Atlas graphically details the scale of the tobacco epidemic, progress that has been made in tobacco control, and the latest products and tactics being deployed by the tobacco industry to grow its profits and delay or derail tobacco control efforts. The Tobacco Atlas clearly explains the policy tools and other interventions that have been proven to help reduce the tobacco epidemic. In addition to addressing major developments across all topic areas, new for the Sixth Edition are chapters on regulating novel products, partnerships, tobacco industry tactics, and countering the industry. Tobaccoatlas.org features a more graphic-rich interface and new functionality to enable users to hone in on the data points contained within the graphics.

  • Dallas Cattle Baron's Ball nets $4.8M!

    ​Event's lifetime fundraising total stands at $80 million!

    Congratulations to our Texas colleagues and volunteers who had a hand in making last month's 45th annual Cattle Baron's Ball in Dallas the best ever!

    The total, a new record, was announced last week at the event's Fall Luncheon. Pictured here are Jonika Nix and Katy Bock, co-chairs of the 2018 CCB.

    Read more about it here.




  • St. Louis gala raises nearly $1.5M

    ​World Wide Technology, Ameren, and the Cardinals announce employee fundraising initiatives to support the renovation of Hope Lodge St. Louis

    On Nov. 3, the American Cancer Society in St. Louis hosted its third annual Champions of Hope Gala, led by the Society’s CEOs Against Cancer® of Missouri - St. Louis chapter, presented by the Centene Charitable Foundation, and chaired by Michael and Noémi Neidorff. 

    Nearly 350 St. Louisans showed their generosity, donating nearly $1.5 million to help the Society save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer.

    The 2018 Champions of Hope Gala celebrated the Society’s Hope Lodge in St. Louis — a facility offering cancer patients and their caregivers a free place to stay when their best hope for effective treatment is in another city. 

    Hope Lodge St. Louis has served tens of thousands of people since 1995. However, after 23 years of operations, the existing facility is showing signs of constant use. 

    To improve guest and caregiver experience, keep pace with their needs, and provide a better quality of life during their stay, the Society recently launched a new capital campaign to fund the renovation and revitalization of the facility. 

    Presenters provided a sneak peek of the campaign’s theme: Hope Is Home (at hopeishome.org), which will help to raise awareness of the Lodge in the community. Then, World Wide Technology, Ameren, and the Cardinals announced the kickoff of employee fundraising initiatives, pledging all of the funds donated toward building and sustaining a new Hope Lodge St. Louis. 

    Additionally, one-third of the funds raised at the gala ($600,000) will be earmarked for the facility. Combined with the nearly $5 million corporate partners raised already this fall, the Society has now reached a total of $5.5 million toward its overall capital campaign goal of $10 million.

    “As St. Louisans, we are fortunate to have access to world-class cancer care right here in our backyard. Hope Lodge St. Louis allows us to share this with others. After all, cancer patients have many things to worry about, and where to stay shouldn’t be one of them,” said Jim Kavanaugh, CEO and co-founder of World Wide Technology, vice chair of the Society’s CEOs Against Cancer of Missouri - St. Louis chapter and capital campaign chairman.

    Throughout the evening, the gala embraced two themes: pops of color and champions. As the only nonprofit working to combat all types of cancer, the Society featured “pops of color” throughout the event space to represent cancer awareness colors, including professional speed painter Tim Decker. The “champions” theme was brought to life via the evening’s guest speaker and emcee, Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, pictured in the middle in the photo above, and with the Reedys in the smaller image. A motivational speaker, champion, and cancer survivor, Hamilton embodied the entertaining and uplifting spirit of the event.

    The event also honored two partners for their distinguished service and leadership in the community. The Society gave World Wide Technology the Corporate Mission Hero Award for its support of Society events and initiatives, both locally and across the country for many years. John Tavis, PhD, professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, was honored with the Individual Mission Hero Award for his long-time commitment to the Society and cancer research.

    Finally, event organizers announced the chair and date for next year's event. The 2019 Champions of Hope Gala will take place on November 9, 2019, and will be chaired by Peter Blumeyer, UMB St. Louis president and CEO.

    Since its inaugural year in 2016, the Champions of Hope Gala has become a premier event in St. Louis while raising more than $4 million to attack cancer from all angles. To learn more about the event, visit championshopegala.org.

    PHOTOS: North Region staff are pictured with our CEO Gary Reedy. In the smaller image, Gary and Cindy Reedy are with gala emcee Scott Hamilton, an Olympic gold medalist in figure skating, a former CBS skating commentator for many years, and a cancer survivor.




  • FDA proposes prohibiting menthol in cigarettes and flavors in cigars, restricting access to flavored e-cigarettes

    The Food and Drug Administration will restrict sales of most flavored e-cigarettes to age-restricted stores, and move to outlaw two traditional tobacco products that disproportionately harm African-Americans: menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.

    The proposed menthol ban would be the most aggressive action the FDA has taken against the tobacco industry in nearly a decade, but the proposal is likely to face a legal battle.

    The agency also plans to require age-verification measures for online sales to try to ensure that minors are not able to buy the flavor pods.

    The effort to cut off access to flavored e-cigarettes stopped short of a ban that the FDA had threatened in recent months as it sought to persuade e-cigarette makers like Juul Labs to drop marketing strategies that might appeal to minors. The agency said it would allow stores to continue selling such flavored products, but only from closed off-areas that would be inaccessible to teenagers.

    In a statement issued in response to the FDA proposal, ACS CAN said: "The only way to begin reversing this epidemic is for FDA to use its full regulatory authority to conduct premarket review of e-cigarettes and cigars. Relying on partial sales restrictions to somewhat curb access of these deadly products is not enough."

    Read ACS CAN's complete statement.

    The FDA's long-anticipated moves are driven by startling new figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing a 78% increase in vaping by high school students, with 3.6 million high school and middle school students now using e-cigarettes.

    "The bottom line is this: I will not allow a generation of children to become addicted to nicotine through e-cigarettes," said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, noting an "astonishing" surge in teen e-cigarette use that is reversing years of progress in fighting youth tobacco addiction.  "We won't let this pool of kids, a pool of future potential smokers, to continue to build." 

    Read Gottlieb's statement here.




  • Congratulations to our Top 10 Real Men Wear Pink candidates

    ​Whether it’s the friendly competition, a show of support for a loved one, or the drive to make a meaningful impact, our Real Men Wear Pink (RMWP) candidates each have a unique reason why they are working to fight back against breast cancer. In 2018, more than 3,600 men across the country signed on as RMWP candidates.

    Collectively, the candidates on the Nationwide Top 10 Leaderboard raised over $544,000 to help the American Cancer Society attack breast cancer from every angle. Donations are being accepted through the end of the year.

    An extended version of this article will be shared with our 2018 RMWP candidates and alumni in the December issue of the nationwide RMWP eNewsletter. 

    Here are this year's Top 10 fundraisers:

    1. Jeffrey Sheehan, Real Men Wear Pink of Oakland County, Michigan - $91,205.50  

    Jeffrey Sheehan’s involvement in the fight against cancer is personal after losing a close friend to breast cancer in 2016. After raising over $91,000, he emerged as the nation’s top Real Man through his network of family, friends, and colleagues. Jeffrey currently serves as the president of the Johnstone Supply Eastern Michigan Group and chairman of the Board for the Johnstone Cooperative. He shared his passion for our mission with his supporters. (Read a longer story about Jeffrey on My Society Source.)

    2. Grant Navarre, Real Men Wear Pink of Southwest Louisiana - $75,350.21 

    In addition to many people close to him battling breast cancer, Grant Navarre lost his father to cancer a few years ago. Grant, an owner and sales manager with Billy Navarre Auto, has participated in four consecutive RMWP campaigns! This year, not only did he more than double his fundraising total from last year by hosting a slow-pitch softball tournament, a pink party, and a golf tournament, but he also served as the honorary chair of the Southwest Louisiana campaign. 

    3. Farzad Sani, Real Men Wear Pink of Capital Region - $54,383.15 

    Dr. Farzad Sani, a pediatric dentist in the Capital Region of New York, has seen his family deeply touched by various forms of cancer, from his parents to his grandmothers. He got creative in his fundraisers and really leveraged his work at Pediatric Dental Group of New York to bring awareness to his campaign and raise funds! Dr. Sani raised over $14,000 by running a challenge for the first few weeks of October, donating $8 for every teeth cleaning procedure he performed to honor the 1 in 8 women who will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. 

    4. Greg Miller, Real Men Wear Pink of Atlanta - $50,987.96 

    Greg Miller, executive vice president and chief information officer at Genuine Parts Company, knows the importance of raising awareness and funds in the fight against breast cancer. He raised awareness for his mother, who is a 25+ year survivor of the disease, for his nieces and daughters-in-law with their family histories, and for the hope that his new granddaughter would never need to worry about being diagnosed.  He made the biggest impact to his fundraising campaign by sending letters to his contacts and vendors, but perhaps the most fun was had at a truck pull held at Genuine Parts. 

    5. Dave Mirgon, Real Men Wear Pink of Columbus - $50,043.19

    Dave Mirgon was inspired to get involved with RMWP by his friends, David and Shannon Schmidt. Sadly, Shannon lost her courageous battle with breast cancer just two days after Dave accepted his nomination as a Real Man. Dave knew that he could show his support for Shannon’s husband and their two sons through their shared love of basketball. So, a youth basketball tournament was planned and resulted in 1,000 “Real Young Men” from 3rd - 7th grades participating and raising $2,400! Raising a dollar amount that ends in 43 is significant because it was Shannon’s high school jersey number.

    6. Dennis Hower, Real Men Wear Pink of Lehigh Valley - $47,121.83 

    Dennis Hower, President of Teamster Local 773, was an inspiration to many of his constituents this RMWP season. In his promotional video, he talks about how ACS was there for him and his family before losing his father to cancer. Dennis’s creativity and drive came to the forefront in several key areas including offering to dye his beard pink after reaching his original goal of $10,000. At Bling Your Bra night, he put together a bra and basket that was auctioned off for more than $3,700. After reaching $40,000, he is getting a pink ribbon tattoo with the initials of 10 people put forth by his 10 biggest donors to honor those who fought cancer. 

    7. Tom Flookes, Real Men Wear Pink of Seattle - $44,754.22 

    Tom Flookes is currently an associate partner for IBM's Global Business Services Division. He is also an avid supporter of ACS through his involvement in RMWP, chairing Seattle’s Hope Gala for three years, and his position as the co-chair of the American Cancer Society Washington and Alaska Board of Advisors. Tom is a busy guy, but he didn’t let that stop him from dying his hair pink this campaign season! He also held special food and wine tastings, dinners, and teamed up with Kendra Scott Jewelry to create a fun night to reveal his hair and give back to the cause with every purchase. 

    8. John Mike, Real Men Wear Pink of Knoxville - $44,467.68 

    John Mike, president at Perceptics in the Knoxville area, has had numerous friends and family members affected by cancer in some way. His fundraisers included a lunch at his office, a silent auction, and even fundraising and spreading the word about his campaign at professional trade shows. John’s fundraising efforts were tripled through the generosity of his company and foundation! Not only did John’s work with RMWP significantly impact the fight against breast cancer, but he saw rewards in his workplace community—morale boosted and employees bonded over a common goal.

    9. Daniel Weickenand, Real Men Wear Pink of Memphis - $43,598.74 

    Daniel Weickenand, CEO of Orion Federal Credit Union, has a personal connection to this cause. “I have chosen to participate because my mother passed away at the age of 60 from a cancer that I understand is very curable today,” says Daniel. “Unfortunately, I know several individuals who have been impacted by breast cancer, including my family, so anything I can do to assist with this great cause is an honor.” Daniel achieved success in his campaign by sending out emails to friends and colleagues, and by requesting donations in each of his credit union branches during the month of October.

    10. Brian Leslie, Real Men Wear Pink of Gainesville - $42,227.67 

    Brian Leslie signed on as a Real Man in support of his wife Kerri, a breast cancer survivor who is passionate about spreading awareness. Brian and Kerri are influential members of the Gainesville community, who are truly dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others. Together, Brian and Kerri hosted events such as a Pink LSU tailgate at a Florida Gator home football game, a Sip and Shop event with a local boutique that was very generous to the campaign, and a local restaurant giveback where proceeds for the evening supported Brian.  


  • Great American Smokeout: first step toward a smoke-free life

    For the 43rd annual Great American Smokeout® on Thursday, November 15, the event took on a new theme: "Day 1," reflecting an evolution from quitting for the day to the recognition that successful cessation takes time and planning. Smokers are encouraged to use the day to map out a plan for a smoke-free life.

    Since 1976, we have hosted the Great American Smokeout, a public awareness event to encourage people to quit smoking. It is celebrated on the third Thursday of November. Organizations across the country use the event to encourage smokers to take action to quit smoking.

    Smoking accounts for nearly 1 in 3 cancer deaths in the U.S., and increases the risk of cancers of the lung, mouth, larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), esophagus (swallowing tube), kidney, cervix, liver, bladder, pancreas, stomach, and colon/rectum, as well as for myeloid leukemia.

    Smoking not only causes cancer, it damages nearly every organ in the body, including the lungs, heart, blood vessels, reproductive organs, mouth, skin, eyes, and bones. About 1 out of 5 (480,000) deaths in the U.S. is due to smoking.

    While the smoking rate has dropped significantly, from 42% in 1965 to 14% in 2017, the gains have been inconsistent. Some groups of Americans suffer disproportionately more from smoking-related cancer and other diseases, including those who have less education, who live below the poverty level, or who suffer from serious psychological distress, as well as certain racial and ethnic groups, and lesbians, gays, and bisexuals.

    Quitting smoking can be extremely difficult. Experts say the best approach is to start with a plan and seek support. Quitting often takes multiple attempts. Smokers are strongly advised to use proven cessation methods, such as nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), such as patches, gum, and lozenges, or prescription medications and counseling, or a combination of all, to quit smoking. It's a good idea to talk to your doctor or pharmacist to get their advice. Support is also important. Stop-smoking programs, telephone quit lines, the American Cancer Society's Freshstart program, self-help materials such as books and pamphlets, and smoking counselors or coaches can be a great help.

    "The American Cancer Society supports any smoker who is considering quitting, no matter what approach they use," said Cliff Douglas, JD, our vice president of tobacco control. "We recommend patients work with their clinician and use FDA-approved cessation aids that have been proven to help, but also that clinicians support all attempts to quit the use of combustible tobacco for those smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit using FDA approved aids."

    To learn more and to start planning, visit cancer.org/smokeout.




  • National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable annual meeting is taking place in Baltimore

    ​​On Thursday, our CEO Gary Reedy delivered a keynote address titled "Creating New Partnerships: How to Work with Employers"

    Each year the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) membership, a collaboration of more than 100 medical, advocacy, government, and corporate organizations, convenes to work together on our shared goal to save lives by getting more people screened for colorectal cancer screening.

    This year, the meeting is being held Nov. 14-16 in Baltimore, MD. The theme is 80% and Beyond: A Goal for Every Community. Attendees will celebrate successes, focus on how to keep our momentum strong as we transition into 2019, and, perhaps most importantly, build the bridge to the Roundtable's next phase of work.

    The 2018 NCCRT Annual Meeting will feature presentations by nationally known experts, thought leaders, and decision makers on colorectal cancer screening policy and delivery, including ACS and ACS CAN leaders. Rich Wender, MD, our chief cancer control officer and chair of the NCCRT, and Robert Smith, PhD, our VP of cancer screening and co-chair of the Roundtable, gave an overview of the NCCRT. On Thursday, Dr. Wender moderated a discussion on the "2018 American Cancer Society CRC Screening Guideline: Challenges and Opportunities," and Dr. Smith explained the rationale behind it.

    Published Nov. 14 in The American Journal of Gastroenterology is an article by Dr. Wender, titled: "Creating and Implementing a National Health Campaign: The American Cancer Society's and National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable's 80% by 2018 Initiative."

    There were workshops on:

    • Risk Assessment and Screening To Detect Familial, Hereditary And Early Onset of Colorectal Cancer: Putting Knowledge Into Action. The NCCRT has commissioned a new primary care clinician’s toolkit that aims to improve the ability of primary care clinicians to systematically collect, document, and act on a family history of CRC and adenomas polyps, while also educating clinicians on the need for more timely diagnostic testing for young adults who present with alarm signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer.
    • Findings from NCCRT Market Research with the Unscreened about CRC Screening. Effective messaging advice about reaching key populations will be shared.
    • Medicaid Best Practices around CRC Screening. The NCCRT has commissioned a new best practices guide that looks at how state Medicaid agencies have had success supporting and promoting CRC screening. 
    • Costs, Decision, and Colorectal Cancer Screening. Given the well-established complexity and confusion about the cost of screening, Stephanie Krenrich, director, Federal Relations, ACS CAN; Dustin Perchal, senior grassroots campaigns manager; ACS CAN; and David Woodmansee, director, state and local campaigns, Field Advocacy Operations, ACS CAN,
      outlined the nuances of patient cost sharing requirements for CRC screening according to current laws and regulations. They'll also gave an update on efforts to provide more coverage for patients, and share a hot-off-the-press cost analysis of federal colonoscopy co-pay legislation.
    • Electronic Health Record Best Practices for CRC Screening. This workshop looked at electronic health record (EHR) best practices for CRC screening, including an upcoming tool commissioned by the NCCRT and the National Association of Community Health Centers that documents best practices and workflows for colorectal cancer screening in EHRs. Shelly Yu, MPH, senior analyst, Policy & Legislative Support, ACS CAN, moderated as well as presented.
    • Effective State Roundtables in Action. Among the panelists iwere Shannon Bacon, MSW, Health Systems manager, North Region.

    On the last day, Friday, Durado Brooks, MD, MPH, our vice president, Cancer Intervention, will kick things of with a discussion titled, "What the Recent Election Means for Issues We Care About."

    Workshops on Friday include:

    • Working with Employers - The workshop will begin with a  brief introduction to an ACS resource that outlines steps employers can take to increase screening rates at their company and then feature two partners who have implemented effective strategies.
    • Multicomponent Interventions: Award Winning Programs - Featuring Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, Great Plains Quality Improvement Network, and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.
    • Public Health Wish List: Know-How and Practical Advice from Experts Who Can Push Your Public Health Efforts to the Cutting Edge
    • How to More Effectively Magnify and Disseminate our Knowledge. Learnings from South Carolina’s Champion Training, Maine, and California’s statewide grants program.
    • Influential Papers of 2018: What Did We Learn from the Literature
    • What We Know and Don’t Know about Screening 45 to 49 Year Olds - A Look at Insurance Coverage, Public Attitudes, and Preliminary Data. Durado Brooks will moderate. Panelists include Michelle DelFavero, MOT, MPH, senior analyst, Policy Analysis and Legislative Support, ACS CAN, and Bill Willard, director, Marketing Research, ACS.


  • Meet Jeffrey Sheehan, our 2018 #1 Real Men Wear Pink fundraiser

    ​Jeffrey Sheehan of Oakland, Michigan, earns the title of Top Real Men Wear Pink fundraiser of 2018

    Like so many of our Real Men Wear Pink candidates, Jeffrey's fight against cancer is personal. He recently lost one of his dearest friends in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) industry to breast cancer. The more than $91,000 he was able to raise through his network of friends, family, and colleagues will make a difference for those that hear the words, "You have breast cancer." 

    Jeffrey was nominated by 2017 Real Men Wear Pink ambassador Matt Bergstrom, co-owner of Thornton & Grooms Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing. After losing one of his close friends to breast cancer in 2016, Jeffrey was ready to participate. The Real Men Wear Pink campaign was a way he could help fund the mission of American Cancer Society including our research and patient services.

    "So many people in my life have been touched by cancer. Although I haven't had someone in my immediate family affected, I have had many friends lives impacted," said Jeffrey. "ACS provides services to so many people already struggling with one of life's messiest challenges. They provide free information and services when and where people need it."

    His desire to help others who are fighting breast cancer inspired those around him to support his efforts. By sharing the resources that American Cancer Society provides to communities nationwide, Jeffrey provided his supporters with the "why".

    "The key to my success was communicating that I was participating in RMWP and why," said Jeffrey. "Cancer touches everyone. The more we can bring awareness to ACS, the more resources we can help ACS provide. Cancer is scary, but we need to talk about it more."

    More than just a Real Men Wear Pink candidate, Jeffrey is someone you want to get to know.

    Originally from California, Jeffrey grew up in a large family and is one of seven children. In 1997, he moved from sunny California to Detroit, Michigan, to open his first of many Johnstone Supply locations. Many years later, Johnstone Supply is the top cooperative wholesale HVAC/R distributor in the country and a recognized national leader in the HVAC/R industry. Jeffrey currently serves as the president of the Johnstone Supply Eastern Michigan Group and chairman of the Board for the Johnstone Cooperative. Jeffrey is seen as a leader by serving on several boards both in his community and the industry. 

    A newlywed, Jeffrey is a proud husband to Deborah and a father to two daughters and a son. 

    About Real Men Wear Pink of Oakland County

    Jeffrey is one of 31 men that participated in the Real Men Wear Pink of Oakland County. This passionate group of men raised more than $224,000 surpassing their goal of $77,500. With candidates across the nation, the Real Men Wear Pink program is helping us save lives from breast cancer.  




  • Caregiver videos now available on cancer.org/caregivers

    ​Produced by ACS Studios and paid for by a sponsorship from EMD Serono

    Six videos of a 12-part series to support unpaid caregivers of cancer patients is now available on cancer.org/caregivervideos - just in time for National Family Caregivers Month.

    Produced and shot by Dan Hodlick, of our own ACS Studios, and paid for by a sponsorship from EMD Serono, these videos will provide much-needed instruction on self-care, side-effect management, medical best practices, and much more. Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, Stress Management, Fear of Recurrence, Relaxation, and Communication are now available, and we encourage you to share them. The remaining videos related to port and drain care, identifying signs of infection, and other medical-related content will be released in early 2019.

    This video series was made possible by our partnership with Embracing Carers™, an initiative of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates its biopharmaceutical business as EMD Serono in the U.S. and Canada. The goal of Embracing Carers™ is to increase awareness, discussion, and action about the often-overlooked needs of caregivers.

    The collaboration will focus on two critical areas of need for caregivers of patients with cancer: the increasing responsibilities in managing medical-related tasks at home and the need for self-care to prevent burnout, depression, and isolation. Caregivers typically do not receive instruction or support for these topics, instead developing critical skills through trial and error. Caregivers also generally experience higher rates of clinical depression, premature aging, and chronic health conditions than the non-caregiving population.

    "This new partnership with Embracing Carers™ is a practical way to give caregivers new skills that will benefit the patient and themselves, enhancing the ability of the caregiver and the overall care of cancer patients," said Rachel Cannady, our strategic director of Cancer Caregiver Support. "Once the patient returns home from surgery or recurrent treatments, their caregivers perform at-home, medical-related tasks that they aren't trained or prepared for," Rachel continued. 

    "We see caregiving as one of the most substantial – and yet largely unaddressed – public health issues of our time," said Joe Horvat, senior vice president, Oncology, for EMD Serono. "Caregivers are the lynchpin of the health care system, and we want to shine a light on their roles, their needs, and the fact that there is help and support out there for them."

    About EMD Serono, Inc.

    EMD Serono is engaged in the discovery, research, and development of medicines for patients with difficult to treat diseases. Building on deep expertise in neurology, fertility, and endocrinology, EMD Serono is working on potential new oncology and immuno-oncology medicines, while continuing to explore potential therapeutic options for diseases such as psoriasis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. It has approximately 1,300 employees around the country with commercial, clinical, and research operations based in Massachusetts.
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