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American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization 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.

American Cancer Society Accomplishments and Priorities

Service - The American Cancer Society provides extensive patient and family support services to help people during and after treatment. For example:

• 24 hour information, the portal of all of their programs: 1.800.ACS.2345 or www.cancer.org
• Reach to Recovery, support program that pairs recently diagnosed women with breast cancer survivors to help them through the process.
• Man to Man, one on one support program for men facing prostate cancer.
• I Can Cope, cancer support group program provided to cancer patients and their families.
• Look Good Feel Better, which teaches female cancer patients how to cope with the appearance-related side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
• Road to Recovery, a program that provides transportation for cancer patients to and from their treatments.
• Cancer Survivors Network, a welcoming safe place for people to find hope and inspiration from others and who have "been there."

Research - The Society is the largest source of non-profit, non-governmental cancer research funding in the United States, investing about 130 million each year. ACS has funded 38 researchers who later went on to be awarded the Nobel Prize.

Advocacy - Cancer is a political, as well as a medical, social, psychological, and economic issue. Every day, government policymakers make decisions that affect the livers of more than 8 million cancer survivors, their families, and all potential cancer patients. To impact those decisions positively, the Society has identified advocacy as one of its top corporate priorities and works nationwide to promote beneficial policies, laws, and regulations for those affected by cancer.

Education and Awareness - Follow American Cancer Society wellness and cancer-detection guidelines can save your life or the lives of people you love. We provide materials and educational programs on early detection and the prevention of cancer.