ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE

Transcription

1 ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE

2 Research is the key reason that cancer is no longer a death sentence. The American Cancer Society funded the scientists whose work led to the drug that saved my life. JIM BOND Cancer has touched so many of us in one way or another. Fathers, mothers, dear friends ourselves. In fact, one in three people in the US will develop cancer in their lifetime. What if we could prevent more cancers? What if we could help more people find the best treatment? What if we could fund the next cancer breakthrough? We can. We will. How? Today we know more about cancer how to help prevent it, detect it early, and survive it than ever before thanks to decades of research and clinical advances. Science, technology, and public resolve are converging in new ways. At this tipping point, new research discoveries, new treatments, and new interventions that can help save and improve millions of lives are around the corner. But only if we keep up the fight. Jim Bond was given six months to live after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma. That was over 20 years ago. He s still living his life today, thanks in part to the years of hard work of cancer researchers. WHAT WE KNOW: 50% NEARLY OF CANCER DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE PROGRESS WE VE MADE: 26% DECLINE IN CANCER MORTALITY SINCE 1991 These statistics should give us hope. At the American Cancer Society, we see opportunity, not only to usher in meaningful progress, but also to ensure that everyone benefits equally from today s extraordinary advances. The difficult truth is this: we have come far, yet great inequities persist in who is able to get cancer care, screening, and prevention services. Too often, where you live determines if you live. We envision a world without cancer and believe it can be achieved. We have been fighting cancer for over a century, and we are committed to saving lives. We are not alone in this fight. Much of the cancer community is doubling down and rallying around the Cancer Moonshot the national call to make a decade s worth of progress in preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer in five years. We are ready to seize upon this momentum. We are ready to open new doors and tear down barriers so that everyone has an equal chance at a life without cancer. 2 ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE 3

3 OUR GOALS GUIDE US To accelerate the fight against cancer, we need a plan a blueprint. The American Cancer Society s blueprint takes stock of what the cancer community does and does not know about cancer, to help us lay out a clear path forward. Specifically, we are identifying the most promising avenues for research to address what is not known today. At the same time, we are acting on what is proven to work and ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to benefit. Our goals spring from this blueprint. Each is a critical piece of solving the cancer puzzle. By achieving them all, we ll move dramatically closer to creating a world free from cancer. Cancer isn t stopping and so there s always a reason to keep fighting, there s always a reason to give, and there s always a reason to want to be involved. Too many people have to hear the words you have cancer. Through the American Cancer Society, your money gets to help all of them. NAN, who, after losing both parents to cancer, volunteered for the American Cancer Society for 25 years before being diagnosed with cancer two years ago Screen 80% of age-eligible adults for colorectal cancer by the end of 2018 Reduce lung cancer age-adjusted mortality by 50% in a decade Ensure access to care for all Alleviate the unequal burden of cancer in vulnerable communities Eliminate HPV-related cancers around the world Equalize breast cancer outcomes Improve and deliver survivorship care for all Eliminate the use of combustible tobacco 4 ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE 5

4 THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY LEADS THE FIGHT The American Cancer Society has been in this fight for more than 100 years. We ve played a role in many of the most important cancer research breakthroughs, funded the research of 47 investigators who went on to win the Nobel Prize, and still act as the nationwide authority developing critical screening guidelines. Our work touches every type of cancer. Few organizations can match this experience, leadership, and reach across all cancers or the breadth of our work. We provide free rides to treatment, free lodging near hospitals, and a live, 24/7 cancer helpline. We support scientists who are working on cutting-edge cancer research. We deploy activists to speak up for the cancer community. The American Cancer Society is there, every step of the way. This comprehensive approach gives us the greatest chance of saving more lives because cancer is complex, unrelenting, and ever-evolving. It will take the leadership of the American Cancer Society working across the cancer continuum to find the best solutions. We are uniquely able to swiftly apply breakthroughs in one cancer to another type of cancer, to eliminate redundancies and identify gaps from research to treatment. We re fighting all cancers in all ways, on all fronts. Our blueprint and strategies chart the best course forward. MOBILIZE ACTION REMOVE BARRIERS TO CARE ADVANCE RESEARCH Our mission is to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer. Highly trusted source for cancer information 100+ years leading the fight against cancer $4.6 billion invested in cancer research since ,000+ research investigators supported 1.8 million unique people served through patient programs in the past 27 years 6 ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE 7

5 DONORS DRIVE IMPACT We can t fight cancer without supporters like you. Take Richard M. Schulze, founder and chairman emeritus of Best Buy, whose family foundation helped build the Richard M. Schulze Family American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Minneapolis, MN. The foundation also supported building and/or renovating four additional Hope Lodge facilities in the US. We re delighted to be a part of this, and we really value the partnership with the American Cancer Society and the medical treatment centers. One team, one dream. People working together to make it better, to make it right, to make it more successful and that makes us feel really good as a family. RICHARD M. SCHULZE OUR IMPACT Funded 47 Nobel Laureates Pushed for adoption of the Pap test for uterine and cervical cancer screening First to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of mammograms for early detection of breast cancer First US study confirming a link between smoking and premature deaths due to cancer and other causes Helped pass legislation banning smoking in public places Contributed to bedside treatment breakthroughs Largest private, nonprofit funder of cancer research in the US Instrumental in establishing a required warning label on all cigarette packs 8 ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE 9

6 ADVANCE RESEARCH Research is the cornerstone of our work in the fight against cancer and the catalyst for hope and continued progress. It helps drive new treatments. It tells us who is at risk and why. It informs prevention, patient support, and advocacy efforts. Our research, whether conducted in-house or at external research institutions, is vetted by more than 250 experts and advisors. And no other US nonprofit funder supports all types of research across as many cancers. But there are challenges. The fact is, cancer research could lose our brightest, most creative minds. Without them, we cannot move forward. The American Cancer Society has committed to doubling our annual research investment by We are building on our decades of research experience and getting creative about how we tackle cancer so we can make cancer diagnoses much rarer and less threatening. Our Launch, Boost, and Accelerate programs help build and sustain a pipeline of scientists, and translate discoveries into real-world treatments and care. ACS dollars make a difference because, without their support, these trials would never have taken place. DR. MICHAEL CIESIELSKI The American Cancer Society provided Dr. Michael Ciesielski with a multi-year Research Scholar Grant when other organizations would not, allowing him to pursue a cutting-edge immunotherapy treatment for glioblastoma. Since receiving American Cancer Society funding for his clinical study, the FDA has awarded orphan drug status to a promising immunotherapy vaccine called SurVaxM, which Dr. Ciesielski co-invented. LAUNCH We support brilliant young scientists the top percent selected by a rigorous, competitive, and independent peer review at this early, critical period in their career. This is our investment in the future of cancer research. BOOST We support individuals or teams whose projects directly align with our goals across all areas of research from populations to patients to lab-based research. This is our commitment to encouraging collaboration and enriching the research community by keeping mid-career scientists from leaving the field. ACCELERATE We re investing in the most promising, high-reward projects and looking to partner with entrepreneurs to find answers even faster. ACS BrightEdge Ventures, LLC which invests in early- to late-stage companies aligned to our mission is one key way we will speed the pace of discovery so that breakthroughs quickly benefit patients. 10 ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE 11

7 REMOVE BARRIERS TO CARE 360 APPROACH TO REACH PEOPLE WHERE & WHEN THEY NEED IT A cancer diagnosis can be devastating. A strong, consistent support network can help ease uncertainty and fear, but not everyone has friends or family to rely on. The American Cancer Society gives patients the support they need so they can focus on what matters: getting well or reducing suffering. We are there at every step of the way, helping patients and families get the fighting chance they deserve. For free. TRANSPORTATION Thousands of people every year are unable to get to their treatment simply because they don t have a ride. Our Road To Recovery program provides free rides and facilitates access to public or commercial transportation drawing on community volunteers, organizations, and businesses. LODGING PATIENT NAVIGATION Navigating the health care system can be confusing, and this can delay diagnosis and treatment. Some people face additional barriers, such as speaking a different language or not having health insurance. We help underserved patients across the nation get vital information and medical care by providing patient navigators who guide them through each stage of their cancer journey. My first call to the American Cancer Society was in the middle of the night. I needed that support, to just hear their voice and calm me down and they offered me so much more than I ever expected. Whoever it was on the other end of that phone, I will never forget them. JOYA HARRIS, Breast Cancer Survivor and American Cancer Society Staff Traveling out of town for treatment is sometimes necessary, but this can make cancer even more difficult and expensive. American Cancer Society Hope Lodge communities are changing that. With more than 30 locations across the country, Hope Lodge facilities provide a place to sleep and a supportive community of caring with resources to give patients and caregivers help and hope when home is far away. INFORMATION We are reaching people 24/7, 365 days a year, through our helpline, chat service, and website. These outlets offer a sympathetic ear, treatment information, or help understanding insurance, and they connect patients to services in their communities. OUR IMPACT IN 2017 More than 340,000 rides given to cancer patients to take them to treatments More than 40,000 patients served by patient navigators Nearly 452,000 nights of free lodging provided at our Hope Lodge communities More than 1.3 million requests for information fulfilled through calls and online chats 12 ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE 13

8 REMOVE BARRIERS TO CARE PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION Today, we know that nearly half of all cancer deaths are preventable. We also know a great deal about preventing cancer. For example: We can prevent 90 percent of HPV-related cancer cases in the US with vaccination at the recommended ages. Earlier screening and detection can help find colorectal cancer before it spreads, when the five-year survival rate is 90 percent. Lifestyle changes such as a maintaining a healthy diet, increasing physical activity, and avoiding excess alcohol can reduce the risk of cancer. Comprehensive efforts at community and national levels can help prevent cancer by reducing tobacco use. But barriers to high quality cancer care still exist, especially for some populations. Consider that the death rate of all cancers combined is 25 percent higher for African Americans than for Whites. That is why we are intensifying efforts to reach low-socioeconomic communities, making it easy for the newly insured to get screened, and advancing community-based prevention and early detection programs. With hundreds of on-the-ground staff across the country, we are uniquely able to target our local outreach efforts by working directly with health centers, hospitals, and state and local health departments to facilitate healthy behaviors. At the national level, we are on the front lines advocating for and developing national cancer screening guidelines for major cancers and for survivorship standards of care. We are galvanizing collaboration across the cancer community to increase the use of proven interventions and reach more people. ENHANCING SURVIVORSHIP As more people survive cancer, there are new challenges. Survivorship care is limited, and the quality is variable. Yet cancer survivors can be at greater risk for other health problems after cancer treatment. The American Cancer Society is dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive support for survivors and to establishing a uniform, coordinated approach to their treatment. This need will only grow more urgent. In the US, the approximately 15.5 million cancer survivors are projected to increase to 20.3 million by ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE 15

9 MOBILIZE ACTION The fight to end cancer doesn t just happen in the doctor s office or research lab. It demands action in statehouses nationwide, in legislation, and in communities around the nation. It demands advocacy. Advocacy is the often unsung but equally vital tactic to reduce suffering and death from cancer. In fact, it s critical to maintaining or increasing government funding for cancer research. This is an even more urgent need today as federal research funding has declined 26 percent since Advocacy also pushes lawmakers and policymakers to pass and implement laws and public health policies that help keep people healthy, provide a better quality of life, or improve access to care. Strengthening tobacco control, advocating for limits on the tanning industry to protect youth from skin cancer, or promoting access to lifesaving screening and treatment, insurance coverage, and palliative care this is advocacy in action. Through the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network SM (ACS CAN) our nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate we ensure that cancer remains a top national priority. ACS CAN is a grassroots force of hundreds of thousands of volunteers in more than 400 communities. We speak on behalf of cancer patients, their caregivers, and their loved ones. ACS CAN works with our research and cancer control staff to identify and develop public policies firmly rooted in scientific evidence. Our expert lobbying, policy, grassroots, and communications capacity have contributed to: Jackie Beale, ACS CAN volunteer and breast cancer survivor, speaks out to members of Congress to keep federal dollars available for cancer research. She joined forces with doctors from some of the nation s leading cancer centers and the Deputy Director of the National Cancer Institute at a briefing in 2017, which was organized by ACS CAN and the One Voice Against Cancer coalition. The increase of tobacco taxes and funding for comprehensive state tobacco control programs Nearly 60 percent of the US population living in a place with a comprehensive smoke-free law covering workplaces, restaurants, and bars $4.8 billion in research funds added to the National Institutes of Health budget through passage of the 21st Century Cures Act The passage of Medicaid expansion in 32 states and the District of Columbia, which provides insurance coverage for cancer screening and treatment for low-income individuals 16 ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE ATTACKING FROM EVERY ANGLE 17

10 HELP LEAD THE FIGHT Imagine more free rides to treatment for those who need it. More bright minds working to discover new treatments or targeted therapies. More voices speaking up for cancer patients, federal research funding, and proven prevention strategies. And more people surviving cancer, getting the best care possible from diagnosis to survivorship no matter where they live or what their circumstances. You can help make that happen. And you can ensure that the phenomenal progress we ve made fighting cancer not only does not stop, but accelerates and benefits everyone. Investing in the American Cancer Society saves and improves lives. It will help end cancer. We are at a critical moment in the history of cancer. It will take all of us to attack cancer from every angle: the cancer community, the government, partners, volunteers, and individuals like you. Please join us.

11 cancer.org , American Cancer Society, Inc. No Models used for illustrative purposes only