Survivor Views

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Three Cancer Survivors

Cancer Survivors’ Views Make a Difference

Survivor Views is a groundbreaking program designed to further engage cancer survivors in the important policy issues that are part of ACS CAN’s fight against cancer.  Over 3,000 cancer survivors have agreed to participate in Survivor Views by responding to regular surveys on policy issues that support the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer and promote survivors’ quality of life.

Through Survivor Views, ACS CAN hears directly from cancer survivors about their experiences and their perspectives on critical cancer-related issues.  This information helps shape the development of policy positions and provides important evidence to support the enactment of these policies.

51%

of cancer patients and survivors have gone into debt to cover the cost of their cancer care.

View the survey findings

Latest Updates

October 8, 2024
National

Seventy-two percent of cancer patients and survivors support extending the Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits, according to the latest Survivor Views survey released today by ACS CAN.

May 9, 2024
National

Nearly half (49%) of cancer patients and survivors report being burdened by medical debt alongside some (13%) who report expecting to incur medical debt as part of their treatment plan, according to a new Survivor Views survey by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).

February 14, 2024
National

Protecting free preventive cancer screenings and reducing the burden of medical debt are the top issues of concern for cancer patients and survivors today, according to a new survey by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) that asked participants to select their leading policy priorities for the year.

October 19, 2023
National

The nation’s drug shortage crisis continues to affect cancer patients and survivors with 1 in every 10 (10%) reporting impacts to care, a majority of whom have had difficulties finding substitute medications (68%) and cited treatment delays (45%). The data is part of a new survey by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).

Survivor Views Resources

Each person has a slightly different inherited genetic makeup that can cause different people to have different responses to the same drug. These differences may impact the effectiveness of a drug or the side effects a person may experience. Our latest survey explores concerns about drug reactions and awareness of PGx testing to help better understand a patient's potential drug response.

Representation is important to cancer patients and survivors when it comes to the composition of clinical trials, with patients saying it is important that drugs are tested among patients who share their gender, age, and general health. Women consider it more important that drugs be tested in patients who share their gender than do men, while people of color are most concerned about representation in clinical trials.

Half of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) cancer patients and survivors report they are concerned about facing discrimination in a health care setting. More than one-third have experienced discrimination in a healthcare setting, with significant impacts on their care.

Our latest survey finds that cancer patients and survivors would be less likely to stay current with preventive care, including recommended cancer screenings, if the provision requiring these services be covered at no cost were repealed. This survey also explores the challenges of limited provider networks and the need for patient navigation.

Cancer patients and survivors must balance reducing their health care costs with ensuring they have comprehensive coverage of services, treatments, and care providers.

Our latest survey finds that female cancer patients are less satisfied with the quality of their cancer care than male cancer patients and are more likely to report that their symptoms were not taken seriously and that they had to prove their symptoms to providers.




Survivor Views is made possible by support from Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, Merck, Pfizer, and Sanofi