American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service.

The American Cancer Society was founded in 1913 as the American Society for the Control of Cancer (ASCC) in New York City. Since then, ACS has become a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization. ACS is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and has more than 3,400 local offices nationwide.

Partnership Activities

Highlights of ACS and CDC collaborations include:

• Conducting a series of Comprehensive Cancer Control Leadership Institutes (CCCLI) to provide an opportunity for influential state leaders to implement or enhance a comprehensive cancer control approach in their state. Based on evaluations and lessons learned from implementation of the regional CCCLIs, the ACS, CDC, and other Institute partners will initiate phase two of the institutes, that will focus on assisting states, tribes, and territories with implementing comprehensive cancer control plans. Institute topics include sustaining partnerships, evaluating Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC) efforts, choosing evidence-based interventions, addressing disparities, innovative resources for CCC, advocacy for CCC, integrating CCC and other chronic disease programs, and moving from planning to implementation.



• Cosponsoring events such as the forum From Guidelines to Action: Skin Cancer Prevention in Schools for national, state, and local leaders in education to discuss with skin cancer prevention experts the dissemination of CDC's Guidelines for School Programs to Prevent Skin Cancer. The information collected during this January 2002 event has led to the identification of appropriate strategies and communication tools to assist schools with implementation of the Guidelines. In spring 2003, drafts of several communication tools including Skin Cancer fact sheets, interactive Web materials, and brochures for different school audiences were developed based on information from the forum. Findings from the forum have also led to the creation of Shade Planning for America's Schools, a plan for increasing the amount of shade available to students as recommended by the Guidelines. In addition, a workgroup of national education leaders and skin cancer prevention experts continues to work on skin cancer prevention in schools.



• Increasing the awareness of the benefits of screening for colorectal cancer among the public, providers, and policymakers by continued active participation and support for the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, expanding an ongoing nationwide public awareness campaign, and developing new initiatives targeted to minorities and other underserved audiences.



• Collaborating as a member of the National Coordinating Council for Cancer Surveillance to coordinate issues affecting cancer control and data registration.



• Serving as a conference cosponsor for CDC's 2001 Cancer Conference, "Using Science to Build Comprehensive Cancer Programs: A 2001 Odyssey," and CDC's 2003 Cancer Conference, "Comprehensive Approaches to Cancer Control: The Public Health Role."



• Collaborating with the CDC, the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, and the National Cancer Institute to produce the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, which is an annual publication that began in 1998. The 2007 edition was released in October 2007 and features a comprehensive compilation of cancer information for American Indians and Alaska Natives. The report includes incidence data from 39 cancer registries, covering approximately 82% of the U.S. population.
  
  
• Creating a new Web-based resource for CCC planning, implementation, and evaluation. Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. (Plan, Link, Act, Network, with Evidence-based Tools) serves as a doorway to cancer-related data and to new evidence-based tools that can aid communities in better understanding and addressing their cancer burden. P.L.A.N.E.T.–a joint public private effort— was announced in spring 2003 by NCI, CDC, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Survivorship Activities

• Support Programs and Services: ACS programs to help survivors deal with many aspects of their cancer experience.



• Cancer Survivors Network:* A free Web-based community created by and for cancer survivors and their families for the purpose of supporting each other. There are personal stories, discussions, chat rooms, and personal Web pages.



• Stories of Hope: Find inspiration, hope, and support in these stories about people whose lives have been touched by cancer.



• ACS Bookstore: ACS publishes numerous books and journals helpful to survivors and patients. Choose from books on a variety of topics related to coping with cancer.



• "tlc" Tender Loving Care Catalog: This "magalog" (magazine/catalog) combines helpful articles and information with products for women coping with cancer, such as cancer treatment that causes hair loss. Products include wigs, hairpieces, breast forms, prostheses, bras, hats, turbans, swimwear, and helpful accessories at the lowest possible prices. "tlc" is a self-supporting program of ACS. Any profits are reinvested in the program to make it more accessible to those in need.

American Cancer Society
National Home Office
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329-4251
Toll-free: (800) ACS-2345 (800-227-2345)
www.cancer.org*

*Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.