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

Survivor Views: Preventive Care Coverage, Medical Debt, & Food Insecurity

February 14, 2024

Our latest survey finds that protecting no-cost screenings and preventive care and reducing the burden of medical debt are the most impotant priorities for cancer patients and survivors. This survey also explores the impacts of cancer on food and nutrition insecurity, with impacts felt across income groups and coverage levels.

Cancer Patients and Survivors Overwhelmingly Agree Biomarker Testing Improved Their Treatment

October 19, 2023

Our latest Survivor Views survey sees increases in biomarker testing since the question was last asked three years ago along with reduced cost and coverage barriers in that time. Cancer patients and survivors describe the benefits and overwhelmingly agree biomarker testing gave their providers information that improved their treatment. 

Survivor Views: One in Ten Impacted by Recent Drug Shortages

October 19, 2023

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%).

Survivor Views on Social Connection & Isolation

October 17, 2023

A recent survey of cancer patients and survivors finds that more than half experienced greater isolation as a result of their cancer diagnosis (52%) and treatment (57%), and the vast majority (89%) agree it would be helpful for friends and loved ones to have training in how best to support cancer patients.

Survivor Views of Pharmacogenomic Testing

October 10, 2023

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.

Survivor Views on the Composition of Clinical Trials

October 9, 2023

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.




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