The public health community lost a tireless and enormously effective champion when Senator Arlen Specter succumbed to cancer on Sunday at the age of 82. I thought it was only appropriate to pay tribute to him by recognizing his unparalleled contributions to the fight against cancer.
School started for many American children this month, but their new teachers weren't the only change on the first day - school meals got an overhaul over the summer.
A new edition of the ACS CAN report How Do You Measure Up? shows that the majority of states are not measuring up on legislative solutions to prevent and fight cancer. The report ranks where states stand on these issues that play a critical role in reducing cancer incidence and death. It measures seven specific issues.
I've shared my story with many people friends, family, fellow advocates but last week's event in Washington, D.C. was an experience I will never forget.
To increase awareness of the Prevention Fund's lifesaving impact, ACS CAN released a report last week called Staying Well: Real Stories from the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which features 17 stories of state and community programs that depend on the Prevention Fund for their critical work.
If you live in D.C., you might have noticed a new ad today in a Capitol Hill newspaper like National Journal or online on a site such as The Hill's Healthwatch blog. I'm excited to announce that we launched our new advertising campaign today, which asks lawmakers to support legislation introduced last week that would expand access to palliative care.
I recently returned from one of the best events ACS CAN hosts all year the State Lead Ambassador Summit. With one in every state, State Lead Ambassadors (SLAs) are ACS CAN's top ranking grassroots volunteers. They coordinate all volunteer-led work across their state.
After nearly 40 years of volunteer work for the American Cancer Society, I came on board as the ACS CAN Board Chair in November of last year. I'm now directly involved in advocacy more than I've ever been before, and I wanted to share with you some highlights of what we're looking forward to in 2012.
I'm pleased to announce the launch of this blog as ACS CAN is in the midst of celebrating its 10th birthday.
As you're reading this, cancer advocates are fighting a major battle against Big Tobacco in California - a battle that, if won, could save more than 100,000 lives, $5.1 billion in healthcare costs and protect nearly 230,000 kids from the dangers of tobacco.