Reducing Health Disparities

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Cancer impacts everyone, but it doesn’t impact everyone equally. We are working to ensure everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer. No one should be disadvantaged in their fight against cancer because of how much money they make, the color of their skin, their sexual orientation, their gender identity, their disability status, or where they live.

From ensuring greater diversity among clinical trial participants to improving access to quality, affordable health care, we are asking lawmakers to reduce disparities in cancer care by advancing policies that break down existing barriers.

Black women are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women overall

Latest Updates

September 2, 2021
Idaho

This year roughly 10,240 Idahoans will be diagnosed with cancer. Thanks in part to advances in cancer research and treatment, we are saving more lives than ever. But cancer remains a critical public health problem and getting new and affordable therapies from the research lab to the patient will require

August 24, 2021
National

Washington, D.C.— The DIVERSE Trials Act, introduced in both the House and Senate would increase diversity in clinical trials and make it easier for all cancer patients to participate in clinical trials. The bipartisan bicameral legislation, sponsored by Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Reps. Raul

August 5, 2021
National

More than two dozen patient groups and health care partners are joining forces to call for a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program, including caregiving leave.

July 22, 2021

The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit to force the state to implement Medicaid expansion. The following is a statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).

Reducing Health Disparities Resources

ACS CAN submitted comments to the National Institute of Health Request for Information: Inviting Comments and Suggestions to Advance and Strengthen Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Biomedical Research Workforce and Advance Health Disparities and Health Equity Research

Our ability to continue to make progress against cancer relies heavily on eliminating the inequities that exist in the prevention and early detection of cancer. This factsheet explores how health outcomes vary across groups, barriers to cancer screenings, and how ACS CAN is taking action.

In the U.S., colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and in women, and the second most common cause of cancer deaths when men and women are combined. Despite advancements in screening and treatment, CRC does not affect every community the same.