Pain Relief

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Patient Quality of Life

Cancer patients and cancer survivors shouldn't have to live in pain. Ensuring access to effective pain medications improves their long-term outcomes and enhances their quality of life. 

We are working in state legislatures and with the federal government to ensure that new laws and regulations are balanced, addressing problems with misuse and abuse of opioids, while making sure patients continue to have access to needed pain medication. 

Latest Updates

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ACS CAN Welcomes New Opioid Guidelines, But Remains Concerned About Patient Access

April 11, 2022
National

Washington, D.C.--Today ACS CAN filed comments with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding proposed clinical practice guidelines for prescribing opioids. Read the full comments

2020 Maine Session Summary

April 23, 2020
Maine

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Mainers touched by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In

New Report Shows State Lawmakers Can Do More to Prevent, Reduce Cancer

August 9, 2018

State lawmakers across the country are missing important opportunities to pass and implement proven legislative solutions to prevent and fight cancer, according to a report released today by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). How Do You Measure Up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality grades states on the strength of evidence-based policies that help to prevent cancer, which kills roughly 1,670 people a day nationwide, forces patients to pay nearly $4 billion in out-of-pocket expenses every year and in 2015 cost the country more than $80 billion in direct medical expenditures.

Idaho Lawmakers Have Opportunity to Save Lives and Money

August 9, 2018
Idaho

BOISE, Idaho – Idaho is falling short when it comes to implementing policies and passing legislation to prevent and reduce suffering and death from cancer. According to the latest edition of How Do You Measure Up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality,

Pain Relief Resources

Comments to FDA re: Opioids at Higher Doses

May 28, 2019

ACS CAN submitted comments to FDA regarding the use of opioids at higher doses, in response to an FDA request for comments. 

Opioid Taxes and the Importance of Maintaining Access for Cancer Patients & Survivors

March 13, 2019

Factsheet on opioid taxes

Cancer and the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act

October 10, 2018

In the fall of 2018 the House and Senate passed the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (the SUPPORT Act)1 – comprehensive legislation to address the opioid epidemic.