The American Cancer Society is the largest voluntary cancer fighting organization in the world
and, through our research program, have been involved in every major cancer breakthrough
in the last century. As an organization with over 2 million volunteers the American Cancer
Society is committed to a world free from the pain and suffering of cancer. The Society relies
on the strength of these millions of volunteers and the support of professional staff to drive
every part of our Mission. The American Cancer Society aims to eradicate cancer by helping
people Stay Well by helping cancer patients Get Well by Finding Cures and by Fighting Back. .
Research
Since 1946, Cornell University has received over 28 Million dollars from the American
Cancer Society in research grant funding. Currently, Weill Medical College of Cornell University has $1,047,500 split between 3 grants from the American Cancer Society.
Under the guidance of Cornell University’s Dr. Robert Weiss, four Cornell University
graduate students will be selected to participate in a Scientific Poster Competition, at the
gala. Each student will be interacting with the gala guests, explaining to them their work
and how it may influence cancer research. A judging panel of Cornell’s
professors/researchers will select one student to be awarded the Cornell Research Award
and $500 prize as the highlight of the evening’s event. This is a great way for Cornell
University to showcase its research impact and engage with the community.
Patient Services
For nearly 1.7 million cancer patients diagnosed this year and more than the 15.5 million
US cancer survivors the American Cancer Society is there every step of the way. Whether
it’s providing emotional support, the latest cancer information, or a home away from
home when treatment is far away, we’re here when you need us.
Our 1-800 number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and our
website, www.cancer.org, are two services that are available to patients and their
caregivers right from the comfort of their own home. They provide free information on
all types of cancer, treatments, drugs, therapies, clinical trials, where to get second
opinions, and any type of support and assistance a cancer patient, or caregiver may need.
Hope Lodges are comfortable “homes away from home” where cancer patients and their
caregivers can stay without cost while they are being treated. Hope Lodges provide
patients and their caregivers an environment of support with a homelike experience in a
time of turbulence. In New York State, there are Hope Lodges in Manhattan and
Rochester. We also provide hotel lodging in many cities where Hope Lodges are either not
available, or are full.
Road to Recovery provides free rides to cancer patient who otherwise would have
difficulty getting to their medical appointments. Trained volunteer drivers donate their
time and their vehicles to help patients get to the treatments they need.
Education
The American Cancer Society remains a strong collaborator with Cayuga Medical Center at
Ithaca. As a community partner, the ACS has assisted Cayuga Med to achieve and maintain
its Commission on Cancer accreditation resulting in a higher standard of care for the
region’s cancer patients. You can learn more about that accreditation
here: https://www.cayugamed.org/content.cfm?page=archive&newsID=83
Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative – The American Cancer Society continues to
promote life saving colo-rectal cancer screenings in partnership with the CDC, the National
Colorectal Cancer Roundtable and over 1500 organizations nationwide in the 80%
screening initiative, which seeks to increase colorectal cancer screening rates to 80%
through education and community outreach efforts.
HPV Vaccination - The American Cancer Society has undertaken a national initiative to
increase HPV vaccination rates to dramatically reduce cervical cancer and other HPV
related cancers in our communities. This groundbreaking vaccine can potentially eradicate
cervical cancers if proper vaccination protocol is completed.
Advocacy
On the national level, just last year, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
was instrumental in increasing cancer research funding for the first time in the last 10
years. We continue to advocate for multi-billion- dollar funding increases for lifesaving
cancer research.
On the state level, our advocacy agenda supports:
- all of the Cancer Service Programs that are within each county, including
Tompkins, Schuyler and Cortland County. This program has a direct impact on
providing cancer screening service to uninsured and or underinsured individuals in
your community for breast, cervical and colon cancer. Our legislative request is to
increase this funding to $25.3 million dollars.
- increasing the tobacco control program funding to $52 million, which will help
those addicted to tobacco, and to provide programs to keep kids from beginning
this deadly addiction.
- Raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21 years of age. The American
Cancer Society provided key testimony for passage of “T21” in Cortland County
during 2016, making it the sixth municipality in New York State to adopt this
important legislation. To date, nine counties and all of NYC have passed T21,
covering a majority of New York state residents.
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