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

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New Survey Finds Majority of Cancer Patients and Survivors More Likely to Participate in Clinical Trials if They Received Financial Support to Offset Participation Costs

August 19, 2026
National

According to a new American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) survey, 89% of cancer patients and survivors say they would be more likely to participate in a clinical trial outside their local area if trial sponsors helped them organize or pay for travel and lodging to offset the extra travel.

New Survey Finds Majority of Cancer Survivors Say They Would Not Have Been Able to Meet Work Requirements During Cancer Treatment

July 30, 2026
National

According to a new American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) survey, 90% of cancer patients and survivors say their cancer or their care and treatment required them to miss hours of work, school or volunteering, with nearly one-third of respondents (32%) continuing to experience disruptions into survivorship.

New ACS CAN Survey Finds More than Half of Cancer Patients and Survivors in Rural Communities Report Difficulty Affording Cancer Care

May 13, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC – According to a new American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) survey, more than half (53%) of cancer patients and survivors living in rural communities find it difficult to afford their cancer care. Half have incurred medical debt related to the costs of that care,

Overwhelming Majority of Cancer Patients and Survivors Support Broad Community Immunization and Oppose States’ Actions Limiting Access to Vaccines

February 18, 2026
National

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) released today results from a survey exploring cancer patients and survivors’ attitudes toward vaccines.

Survivor Views Resources

National Screening Survey

May 14, 2025

Our latest survey finds that 31% of screening-age adults have been more than one year behind on recommended routine cancer screenings. Over half say out-of-pocket costs are a barrier to getting screened, while 47% report that getting insurance approvals for covered screenings is a barrier.

Choice in Treatment Modality Overwhelmingly Important to Cancer Patients & Survivors

February 18, 2025

Nearly all (94%) cancer patients and survivors agree that it is important for patients and their providers to have the ability to choose the type of treatment and delivery that best suits their needs. Patients who have taken oral anti-cancer drugs rate their experience significantly better compared to experiences with IV infusions on several metrics including coping with side effects, time spent in provider visits, and quality of life.

Cancer Patients & Survivors Strongly Support Maintaining Funding for Medicaid and Protections for Preexisting Conditions

February 12, 2025

Our latest Survivor Views survey finds that across party lines cancer patients and survivors oppose reducing funding for Medicaid (73%), and fewer than one-in-five support adding a work requirement for Medicaid (19%). The survey also finds overwhelming support for protecting coverage for those with preexisting conditions (81%), and explores questions related to allowing non-ACA plans in the marketplace, which a majority (65%) feel would be confusing.

Survivor Views on Enhanced Premium Tax Credits

January 28, 2025

Our latest survey finds that 86% of those receiving enhanced premium tax credits would have difficulty getting care if the credits expire at the end of 2025, and very few (25%) are aware of the enhanced credits expiring.

Cancer Patients & Survivors Overwhelmingly Support Extending ACA Enhanced Tax Credits

October 8, 2024

In our latest survey, cancer patients and survivors overwhelmingly support extending financial assistance for people who purchase health coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace by a margin of nearly 12 to 1 (72% support, 6% oppose). The survey also finds 43% would not be able to afford their plan without the enhanced tax credits, 30% would skip or delay medical care to reduce expenses, and 24% would accumulate medical debt to afford their care.

Survivor Views: Majority of Cancer Patients & Survivors Have or Expect to Have Medical Debt

May 9, 2024

Our latest survey finds that about half of cancer patients and survivors (49%) have incurred medical debt to pay for their cancer care and another 13% expect to incur medical debt as they begin or continue their treatment. Nearly all of those (98%) had health care coverage at the time they accumulated medical debt. This survey also explores the broad health and financial implications of medical debt, how medical debt deepens inequites, and the alarming rate of cancer related medical debt among younger respondents with early diagnoses.




Survivor Views is supported by Amgen, Cell Centric, BMS, Organon, Merck, and Novartis