American Cancer Society
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The American Cancer Society 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. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with more than two million volunteers nationwide, 13 chartered divisions throughout the country and more than 3,400 local offices, the American Cancer Society is one of the oldest and largest voluntary health agencies in the United States.
The American Cancer Society was founded in 1913 as the American Society for the Control of Cancer (ASCC) by 15 prominent physicians and business leaders in New York City. It was one of the most remarkable moments in the history of public health. In 1945, the ASCC was reorganized as the American Cancer Society.
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[edit] Structure
[edit] National Home Office
The National Home Office is responsible for overall planning and coordination of the Society’s programs for cancer information delivery, cancer control and prevention, advocacy, resource development, and patient services. The National Home Office also provides technical support and materials to Divisions and local offices, and administers the intramural and extramural research programs. The National Board of Directors includes representatives from the Divisions and the general public.
[edit] Divisions
The Society’s 13 Divisions are governed by Division Boards of Directors composed of both medical and lay volunteers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The Divisions are responsible for program delivery in their region.
[edit] Local Offices
More than 3,400 local offices nationwide deliver cancer prevention, early detection, and patient services programs at the community level.
[edit] Voluntary work
More than two million volunteers carry out the Society's mission of eliminating cancer and improving quality of life for those individuals facing the disease. These dedicated volunteers donate their time and talents to further cancer research; educate the public about early detection and prevention; advocate for responsible cancer legislation in the local, state, and federal governments; and serve cancer patients and their families as they manage their cancer experience.
[edit] How the American Cancer Society fights cancer
[edit] Research
The aim of the Society’s research program is to determine the causes of cancer and to support efforts to prevent and cure the disease. The American Cancer Society is the largest source of private, nonprofit cancer research funds in the United States, second only to the federal government in total dollars spent.
Beginning in 1946 with $1 million, the Society’s research program has invested about $3 billion in cancer research. The Society funded 40 Nobel Prize winners early in their careers. The research program focuses primarily on peer-reviewed projects initiated by beginning investigators working in leading medical and scientific institutions across the country. The research program consists of three components: extramural grants, intramural epidemiology and surveillance research, and the intramural behavioral research center.
[edit] Education
Knowing the facts about cancer can save lives. What you eat and drink, how you live, where you work – all these factors can affect your cancer risk. American Cancer Society publishes Cancer Facts and Figures.
Primary cancer prevention means taking the necessary precautions to prevent the occurrence of cancer. Prevention programs are designed to help adults and children make healthy lifestyle choices that continue throughout life.
The Society offers programs to help educate the public about cancer risks, early detection methods, and prevention. Educational efforts include:
- Tobacco control.
- Relationship between diet and physical activity and cancer.
- Sun safety.
- Comprehensive school health education.
In addition to cancer prevention, the Society focuses on a variety of early detection programs and encourages regular medical checkups and recommended cancer screenings.
Finding cancer in the earliest stage possible gives the patient the greatest chance of survival. For this reason, the Society seeks to provide the public and health care professionals with the latest cancer resources to help them make informed decisions. Through national conferences and workshops, a Web site (www.cancer.org), the National Cancer Information Center (1-800-ACS-2345), workshops, multimedia, and print publications, the Society reaches out in multiple ways with lifesaving information.
[edit] Patient Services
Because cancer takes a toll on the person diagnosed, as well as family and friends, the Society offers support and service programs to try to lessen the impact. These programs cover a wide range of needs – from connecting patients with other survivors to providing a place to stay when treatment facilities are far from home.
[edit] Advocacy
Cancer is a political issue. Many of the most important cancer decisions are made not just in the doctor’s office, but in your state legislature, in Congress, and the White House. Government officials make decisions every day about health issues that affect our lives. The Society’s advocacy efforts work in concert with its research, education, and service initiatives to strengthen our nation’s laws, regulations, and programs in a way that will:
- Increase federal funding for cancer research
- Help more people benefit from advances in prevention, early detection, and treatment
- Make it easier for patients to navigate the health care system
- Improve the quality of life for cancer patients, survivors, and their families
Society advocacy initiatives rely on the combined efforts of a community-based, grassroots network of cancer survivors and caregivers, Society volunteers and staff, health care professionals, public health organizations, and other collaborative partners.
In addition, the Society has established a sister issue advocacy organization, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN) (http://www.acscan.org). ACS CAN is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major public health problem through voter education and issue campaigns aimed at influencing candidates and lawmakers to support laws and policies that will help people fight cancer.
Among its notable endorsements include the Hopkins 4K for Cancer and Texas 4000 for Cancer, two 4000-mile bike rides across the U.S. to raise money for cancer patients and research.
[edit] Criticisms
The ACS has been criticized for focusing more on diagnosis and treatment than on cancer prevention. The Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition, Dr. Samuel S. Epstein, believes their priorities are economically motivated, and reflect conflicts of interests with the pharmaceutical industry, the pesticide industry, and the mammography industry [1].
The ACS currently meets the Better Business Bureau's Standards for Charity Accountability and spends only 10% of it's income on administration, $760,000 of which goes to the CEO. [2]. In the past, the ACS has been involved in a few economic scandals, none of which indicated systemic abuse. In 2000, Dan Wiant, an administrative officer, was accused of embezzling $7 million [3]. In the 1980s, an employee discovered that a fund-raiser was leading a $4 million tax fraud scheme.[4].
There has also been criticism from groups against animal cruelty such as PETA because the ACS conducts tests on animals and, supposedly hipocriticly, serves beef, which has been linkied to cancer, at fundraisers.
[edit] See also
- Relay For Life, the signature event of the American Cancer Society.
- Colleges Against Cancer, an American Cancer Society program for college communities.
- Daffodil Days
- Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
External links:
- American Cancer Society
- American Cancer Society Labs Website
- Relay For Life eCommunity
- 2005 Annual Report
- Charity Navigator's Rating of the American Cancer Society
- BBB Wise Giving Alliance
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.preventcancer.com/losing/acs/wealthiest_links.htm -
- ^ http://charityreports.give.org/Public/Report.aspx?CharityID=186
- ^ Cancer Society Executive Surrenders to the F.B.I.. The New York Times. Retrieved on February 9, 2007.
- ^ Ex-Fund-Raiser At Cancer Society Indicted In $4 MillionTax Fraud. The New York Times. Retrieved on February 9, 2007.
