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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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.

New Survey Finds Nearly 3 in 4 Cancer Patients and Survivors who Rely on the Marketplace for Comprehensive Coverage Risk Losing Access to Lifesaving Care if the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits are not Extended

December 2, 2025
National

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) today released results from a survey exploring the impact of the enhanced premium tax credits on cancer patients and survivors who rely on the Marketplace for comprehensive health insurance coverage.

Millions of North Carolinians’ Medical Debt Erased

October 14, 2025
North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. - More than 2.5 million North Carolinians had over $6.5 billion in medical debt relieved this week, fulfilling the promise of the state’s plan to engage hospitals in a program to relieve medical debt and institute policies to prevent patients from incurring additional debt. By participating,

New Study Underscores Importance of Pharmacogenomic Testing to Patients and Finds Many Aren’t Aware of the Benefits

August 14, 2025
National

A new ACS CAN study released in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) finds many patients aren’t made aware of the importance of pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing. A form of biomarker testing, PGx testing examines how variations in a patient’s inherited genes may impact how they respond to different drugs and can improve the effectiveness of treatment and reduce the risk of adverse drug reactions.

Survivor Views Resources

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: 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.

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%).

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