American Cancer Society and ACS CAN Continue Commitment
to End Cancer As We Know It, For Everyone
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- On the one-year anniversary of the reignited Cancer
Moonshot, the White House looked back on a year of progress and
announced several public and private commitments to continue to
work toward the initiative's mission to, "End cancer as we know it
today." Among the commitments of the private and nonprofit sectors
shared by the administration, the American Cancer Society and its
advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action
Network (ACS CAN), are highlighted for ongoing work across the
enterprise to support the Moonshot's five key priority areas: (1)
close the screening gap, (2) understand and address environmental
exposure, (3) decrease the impact of preventable cancers, (4) bring
cutting-edge research through the pipeline to patients and
communities, and (5) support patients and caregivers.
"The American Cancer Society and ACS CAN are well aligned with
the Moonshot's mission, and remain steadfast in our commitment to
improve the lives of people with cancer and their families," said
Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the
American Cancer Society and ACS CAN. "The progress we've realized
to date in understanding and achieving better outcomes for the more
than 200 diseases known as cancer is inextricably linked to the
collective investment and dedication of the government and the
private sector working side by side."
In direct response to the president's call to mobilize resources
to change the trajectory of cancer last year, the American Cancer
Society stood with First Lady Jill
Biden to launch the ACS National Breast Cancer Roundtable
and ACS National Cervical Cancer Roundtable in October. Using an
'all-hands-on-deck approach,' the roundtables convene scientists,
the medical community, leading public health agencies, the private
sector and community organizations to catalyze change and
investment across the cancer continuum. Just weeks ago, ACS also
announced a new Improving Mortality from Prostate Cancer Together
(IMPACT) initiative to reduce death rates from prostate cancer in
all demographics and disparities for Black men by 2035 through
advocacy, patient support and research.
Additionally, this year, among our ongoing work across
discovery, patient support and advocacy to change the trajectory of
cancer as we know it, for everyone, ACS will participate in a
first-of-its-kind public-private initiative launched by the
National Cancer Institute to bring clinical and patient navigation
support to families facing childhood cancer. The American Cancer
Society is also partnering with the Richard M. Schulze Foundation
to launch a challenge grant to raise funds for American Cancer
Society Hope Lodges, ensuring those families who have to travel for
cancer treatment have free lodging so they can focus on treatment.
ACS CAN is joining a new coalition of diverse stakeholders to
address barriers to health care faced by rural communities,
including technology and infrastructure limitations.
Beyond the private commitments announced today, the White House
also referenced a number of legislative and policy developments
over the past year, including improved cancer care affordability
thanks to out-of-pocket cost caps in Medicare Part D; the creation
and funding of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
(ARPA-H) with $2.5B already
appropriated, kickstarting the administration's initiative to
promote big ideas in innovation alongside the critical and ongoing
basic research executed by the National Cancer Institute; passage
and implementation of the PACT Act, with 1.5 million veterans
having received screening for toxic exposure and a commitment by
the Department of Veterans Affairs to expedite access to care and
cancer claims linked to that exposure; and the Food and Drug
Administration's issuance of proposed rules prohibiting menthol
cigarettes and all flavored cigars.
"The president's ongoing commitment to shine a national
spotlight on cancer and mobilize collective resources to address
the disease is yielding tremendous dividends," said Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. "We call on
lawmakers and policymakers in Washington and every state across the country
to continue to pick up the mantle and play an instrumental role in
reducing cancer incidence and mortality through investment in
research, promoting evidence-based prevention, including proven
tobacco control; advancing innovation in cancer screening and early
detection; and reducing barriers to affordable, comprehensive
health care from prevention through survivorship."
The American Cancer Society recently released its 2023 Cancer
Facts and Figures report, highlighting overall progress made,
including an overall drop in cancer mortality of 33% since 1991,
averting an estimated 3.8 million cancer deaths. Yet more work
remains as it is projected that in 2023 there will be more than 1.9
million new cancer cases and more than 600,000 deaths from cancer
in the United States. The report
further highlighted ongoing disparities in cancer burden.
"The American Cancer Society and ACS CAN are poised and proud to
continue to work shoulder to shoulder with the president,
administration, Office of Science and Technology Policy leading the
Cancer Moonshot initiative, and private partners across the cancer
continuum to improve lives," Knudsen said. "We remain focused on
ensuring that progress realized in the fight against cancer
benefits all communities."
About The American Cancer Society
The American Cancer
Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to
end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 100 years, we
have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their
families as the only organization combating cancer through
advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to
ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and
survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our
24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook,
Twitter, and Instagram.
About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer
Action Network (ACS CAN) makes cancer a top priority for
policymakers at every level of government. ACS CAN engages
volunteers across the country to make their voices heard to ensure
that our cities, our states and our nation adopt evidence-based
public policies that improve the lives of people with cancer and
their families. We believe everyone should have a fair and just
opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Since
2001, as the American Cancer Society's nonprofit, nonpartisan
advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions
of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality
affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control
measures. We stand with our volunteers, working to change public
policy to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Join the fight by
visiting www.fightcancer.org.
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SOURCE American Cancer Society