Arizona Cancer Action Center

Advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) join Arizonans in mourning the loss of Dr. Leland L. Fairbanks, MD, a pioneer in Arizona’s tobacco control movement and President Emeritus of Arizonans Concerned About Smoking (ACAS). He passed away late Tuesday night at age 94.

PHOENIX, ARIZ. - A new report released by the American Cancer Society on Thursday revealed a shift in the burden of the disease from men to women. Cases of cancer are declining in men while diagnoses are rising in women, specifically younger women. A continued drop in cancer mortality was also noted in the report, but alarming inequities in cancer rates persist, most notably among Native American and Black people. The report coincides with the beginning of the 2025 legislative session and presents Arizona state lawmakers an opportunity to work with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of ACS, to support cancer prevention, treatment, and access to care.

Cancer survivors, patients, and caregivers gathered in Phoenix to honor Arizonans affected by the disease, Tuesday evening. The event, hosted at Dignity Health Cancer Institute at St. Joseph’s, was organized by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) as part of Lights of Hope Across America, the organization’s signature fundraiser aimed at strengthening the mission of reducing the cancer burden for everyone. The display included dozens of lit bags, each representing an Arizonan touched by the disease.

A recent poll by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) shows 8 in 10 or 82% of voters in Arizona view a candidate’s position on access to affordable, comprehensive health coverage as a vote-determining factor. The poll findings showed a majority of voters feel the health care system is not meeting the needs of most of the state’s residents. Conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research, this poll is a part of ACS CAN’s national Cancer Votes campaign—the country’s leading voter education program for cancer-related issues and policies.