Cancer Prevention

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More than half of all cancer deaths can be prevented by fully leveraging the knowledge, tools and medical breakthroughs we have today.

Providing everyone with the opportunity to have a healthy lifestyle and true access to cancer screenings - like mammograms and colonoscopies - could save thousands of lives every year.

We are working to pass laws at every level of government that are proven to help prevent and detect cancer.

Half of all cancer deaths can be prevented.

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SCREENS for Cancer Act

SCREENS for Cancer Act

Tell Congress to improve access to lifesaving breast and cervical cancer screenings and save lives.

Latest Updates

May 7, 2024
New York

Pacientes de cáncer, sus familias y defensores de los pacientes de todo el estado se congregaron hoy en el Capitolio Estatal de Albany para abogar por varias propuestas legislativas que buscan abordar las necesidades de los pacientes de cáncer. La Red de Acción contra el Cáncer de la Sociedad Americana contra el Cáncer (ACS CAN, por sus siglas en inglés) amplifica la voz de las personas afectadas por el cáncer ante los legisladores al celebrar el Día de Acción contra el Cáncer anualmente.

May 7, 2024
New York

Cancer patients, their families and patient advocates from across the state have come together at the State Capitol in Albany today to advocate for several legislative proposals that aim to address the needs of patients across the cancer continuum. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) gives people impacted by cancer a powerful voice with lawmakers by holding an annual Cancer Action Day.

April 26, 2024
Maryland

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) called on U.S. Senate candidates in Maryland to clearly state their commitments to fighting cancer, and one of the candidates, Congressman David Trone, sat down with cancer survivors earlier today to discuss policies that alleviate the burden of cancer, a disease that continues to kill more than 1,600 Americans every day. The effort is part of ACS CAN’s national Cancer Votes program – the country’s leading voter education program for cancer-related issues and policies.

April 24, 2024
National, New Jersey

The following is a statement from Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), on the passing of U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-N.J.).

Cancer Prevention Resources

Early detection of breast and cervical cancer through screening can improve survival and reduce mortality by finding cancer at an early stage when treatment is more effective and less expensive. To save lives and reduce health care spending, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) is highly effective at detecting and treating breast and cervical cancer in people who may otherwise not be screened.

Early detection of cancer through screening can improve survival and reduce mortality by detecting cancer at an early stage when treatment is more effective. The most recent data show breast and lung cancer screening rates were lowest among American Indian and Alaska Native people compared to other race and ethnicities, and below all race and ethnicities combined for cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancer screening.

Tobacco use causes about one-third of cancer deaths in the nation overall, but the burden varies by state.