American Cancer Society

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

Being one of the oldest and largest voluntary health agencies in the United States, American Cancer Society has over two million volunteers nationwide. Its headquarters is based in Atlanta, Georgia and they have state divisions and over three thousand four hundred local offices. 

To carry planned directions, the American Cancer Society’s international mission concentrates on role building in developing cancer societies and on collaborations with other cancer-related organizations all through the world.

How American Cancer Society fights Cancer?

The American Cancer Society fights cancer by means of research, education, advocacy, and service. To ascertain the causes of cancer and to support efforts to prevent and cure the disease, the research programs of the ACS are aimed. It is the major source of private, nonprofit cancer research funds in the United States, second only to the federal government in total dollars spent. 

Research Programs at ACS

Commenced by beginning investigators working in leading medical and scientific institutions across the country the research program concentrates primarily on peer-reviewed projects. Educational efforts of the ACS comprise tobacco control, relationship between diet and physical activity and cancer, sun safety, and comprehensive school health education.

In order to help educate the public about cancer risks, early detection methods, and prevention, programs were offered by the society. It can save lives by knowing the facts about cancer. What you eat and drink, how you live, where you work, all these factors can influence the risk for cancer, and taking the essential precautions to prevent the occurrence of cancer is known as primary cancer prevention. 

The society’s advocacy efforts work together with research, education, and service initiatives. The aim is to improve the nation’s law, regulations, and programs in a way that will rise federal funding for cancer research, help more people profit from advances in prevention, early detection, and treatment, make it easier for patients to steer the health care system, and make better the quality of life of cancer patients, survivors, and their families. Since cancer takes a charge on the person diagnosed with family and friends, in order to reduce the impact, the society offers support and service programs. These programs deal with wide range of needs, when treatment facilities are far from home from relating patients with other survivors to providing a place to stay.

Who Governs the American Cancer Society?

Two national groups with distinctive roles govern the American Cancer Society, Inc.: the National Assembly and the National Board of directors. Volunteers from medical and lay communities are the voting members of both. The society takes its task seriously and as a result, works to protect resources delegated to it by the public. In decision-making and planned supervision of comprehensive nationwide operations, an appropriately structured system of organizational governance guarantees proper checks and balances of the input of appropriate experts.