About ACS
The American Cancer Society exists to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families. We are the only organization that integrates discovery, advocacy, and direct patient support to measurably improve lives. Our discovery research leads to breakthroughs in preventing, finding, and treating cancer. Our advocacy work removes barriers to care so people in every community can have an opportunity to access those breakthroughs. Through direct patient support, we connect people in every community with essential programs and support services throughout their cancer journey. Because while cancer affects everyone, it doesn’t affect everyone equally. Through our commitment to these areas of focus, we are working to ensure everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
Our work improves lives.
From 1991 to 2019, there has been a 33% decline in cancer mortality. We can directly attribute declines in the overall cancer death rate to investment of funds and resources in the areas of advocacy, discovery, and direct patient support.
How is the American Cancer Society making a difference?
We are currently investing more than $400 million in cancer research grants at hundreds of institutions across the US (as of January 2023).
We’ve become experts in identifying visionary scientists early in their
careers, and our track record speaks for itself, as 50 of our funded researchers are Nobel Laureates.
Today, 85% of children with cancer survive five years or more.
The American Cancer Society has contributed to a 33% decline in cancer death rates in the US since 1991. That means we’ve helped save more than
3.8 million lives during that time.
Each year, our programs and services touch more than 54.5 million lives.
We’re a trusted resource for the more than 130 million visitors each year to
cancer.org where we offer the latest information and news on cancer and help connect people to crucial patient services.
But there is more we can do.
In 2022, more than 1.9 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States and more than 600,000 Americans will die from cancer. We have an opportunity not only to support people throughout all stages of their cancer journey today, but to take meaningful steps toward the goal to reduce the death rate from cancer by at least 50% over the next 25 years.
We serve as a key partner in the Cancer Moonshot initiative to reduce the death rate from cancer by at least 50% over the next 25 years. Cancer Moonshot’s mission directly aligns with the work we are already leading to accelerate discovery, improve access to patient services, and advance public policy.
Cancer affects everyone, but it doesn’t affect everyone equally. We are working to ensure everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. ACS and ACS CAN are committed to advancing health equity through our research, programs, service, and through ACS CAN’s advocacy priorities.
Despite evidence that regular screening gives a person the best chance to find cancer early, and prevent certain cancers from even starting, too many individuals for whom cancer screening is recommended remain unscreened. This situation has been exacerbated by the substantial decline in cancer screening resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, together with key partners, we are leading a nationwide effort to raise public awareness about the risks of screening delays and encourage individuals to discuss routine preventive care, including vaccinations and screenings, with a health care provider.