ATLANTA – APRIL 3, 2023 – Today’s announcement of the National Cancer Plan is another exciting step toward advancing cancer research, prevention and treatment. The American Cancer Society (ACS) and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), commit to working alongside the Moonshot Initiative to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families.
“Ending cancer as we know it will take collaboration, cooperation, and integrated workplans that address the entire cancer continuum—from prevention, to detection, to treatment, cure and survivorship. We applaud the leadership of the Moonshot Initiative, and the comprehensive framework described yesterday by Dr. Bertagnolli,” said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society and ACS CAN. “ACS is prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder with the NCI in accelerating the National Cancer Plan, leveraging our resources and sharing knowledge to accelerate progress and move us closer to the goal of ending cancer as we know it.”
In brief, ACS and ACS CAN commits to the following priorities, as aligned to the newly announced National Cancer Plan:
- Prevent Cancer: Strategies that reduce cancer risk are adopted by all people of all ages.
- ACS will continue to fund investigators studying novel ways to prevent cancer or cancer recurrence.
- ACS partners will expand partnerships with national organizations serving diverse communities, to design and deliver culturally tailored outreach and cancer education programs.
- ACS will increase work with communities and partners to disseminate best practices related to cancer risk reduction.
- ACS CAN will advocate to increase funding of critical cancer prevention programs, such as tobacco control in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
- Early Detection: Mortality is reduced because more cancers are detected and treated at an early, more treatable stage.
- ACS cancer guidelines will become living documents that continue to provide evidence-based screening guidelines that educate the public and influence coverage decisions.
- ACS will enhance the awareness of patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals for cancer prevention and early detection guidelines through campaigns, individual education, and roundtables.
- ACS CAN will expand pursuit of increased access to high quality insurance coverage, including Medicaid expansion, increased funding for critical screening programs such as the Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and accelerate access to innovation through reimbursement strategies (e.g. biomarker testing).
- No Untreatable Cancers: Investment in fundamental science produces effective new approaches to precision cancer treatment, particularly for recalcitrant cancers and treatment-resistant disease.
- ACS will continue to fund extramural studies in support of fundamental cancer research, toward our goal of addressing every cancer.
- ACS will expand implementation science and quality improvement approaches to assist front-line clinicians in delivery of precision cancer treatments.
- ACS CAN will advocate for robust and sustained federal funding annually for the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute, to promote development of innovative cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment.
- Eliminate Disparities: Disparities in cancer incidence and access to treatment, screening, interception and prevention are eliminated, and disparities in cancer mortality are no longer present.
- ACS will launch a new cohort of 100,000 Black women to help unravel the etiology of the cancer disparities and outcomes in this population.
- ACS will orchestrate a "to and through" campaign with national partners to guide the public to cancer prevention and screening resources in their communities.
- ACS CAN will pursue federal and state policies nationwide that reduce cancer disparities through access to health insurance coverage, addressing financial toxicity through increasing care affordability, and reducing barriers that lead to more diverse enrollment in clinical trials.
- Deliver Best Care: Our health care system delivers evidence-based care to all people that reduces cancer mortality and improves the lives of people living with cancer.
- ACS will partner with leading cancer organizations and care delivery systems to provide technical assistance in facilitating certification, accreditation, and adherence to best practices so that all patients receive evidence-based care.
- ACS CAN will advocate for policies that reduce patient barriers to access health care systems, focusing on making care more affordable and reducing financial toxicity.
- ACS CAN will partner with governmental agencies to ensure patient-centered approaches to evidence-based care.
- Every Person: Every person with cancer or at risk for cancer has an opportunity to participate in research.
- ACS will fund healthcare implementation grants to increase access of diverse populations to advanced care in the form of clinical trials.
- ACS will increase training of health equity ambassadors providing education to diverse communities on the importance of participating in clinical trials.
- ACS Quality Improvement Collaboratives will provide technical assistance in assisting health systems to increase overall and diverse participation in clinical trials.
- ACS CAN will capture patient and survivor voices through SurvivorViews surveys, regularly executed to quantitatively inform critical public policy issues.
- Sharing Data: Data sharing is standard practice throughout all research areas and available data is used to the fullest extent to achieve rapid progress in cancer research.
- ACS will enhance collaboration on understanding cancer risk though our ACS Intramural cohort studies.
- ACS will work with the NCI and other partners to facilitate efficient sharing of health and research data.
- Effective Workforce: A diverse cancer care and research workforce achieves maximal engagement required to prevent cancer and help all people with cancer live longer and healthier lives.
- ACS Center for Diversity in Research Training funds will enhance exposure to cancer science for diverse high school students, college interns and post-baccalaureate in cancer centers throughout the U.S.
- ACS will enhance collaboration with cancer center DEI leaders to identify/implement strategies to enhance the diversity of the cancer research and oncology workforce.
- ACS will fund implementation science projects to appreciate the lived experiences of all when designing interventions to reduce cancer mortality.
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