Happy Halloween

 

Medicaid Covers Us virtual event replay is now available

Thank you to those who joined the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) virtual event, Medicaid and COVID-19 through the Health Equity Lens. A replay of the event is now available and can be accessed on the Medicaid Covers Us website.  

The event, part of the Medicaid Covers US project, featured several nationally recognized experts who explored the role of Medicaid in addressing health and racial disparities that have been further exacerbated by Covid-19. 

Dr. Jamila Michener, associate professor and Co-Director of the Cornell Center for Health Equity and Dr. Alpa Patel, senior vice president of population science for the American Cancer Society (ACS), shared some insightful research about the disparate impact of COVID-19 and cancer on different populations. Mike Perry, partner at PerryUndem, shared preliminary findings of new messaging research he conducted for ACS CAN exploring changing views on Medicaid and access to care as well as racial health disparities.  

In addition to the event recording, you can view several short films and videos highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on communities and health care providers in Alabama, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Tennessee. 

On Wednesday, November 18, the Medicaid Covers US team will be hosting another virtual event – Post-Election Analysis for Medicaid: Messaging, Policies and Action. This event is open to all ACS and ACS CAN staff and volunteers, as well as the public. Register today. 

Please contact the Medicaid Covers Us team if you have any questions or feedback about the Medicaid Covers Us project.

*Shared from MySocietySource.

National Cat Day

On National Cat Day, learn the health benefits of owning pets.

ACS Medal of Honor recipients awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry

 

Developers of the tool for gene editing were awarded our highest honor in 2018.

Congratulations to American biochemist Jennifer A. Doudna, PhD (left in the smaller photo) and French microbiologist Emmanuelle Charpentier, PhD (right) this year's recipients of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their 2012 work on the development of Crispr-Cas9, a method for genome editing. The Oct. 7 announcement marks the first time a science Nobel has been awarded to two women.

Both scientists were among five individuals awarded the American Cancer Society's highest honor in 2018. Read more about those Medal of Honor awards here.

“The work of these two investigators is arguably one of the great technical advances in the past 50 years akin to DNA sequencing. In the same way that our ability to sequence DNA is essential in biomedical research today, genome editing is quickly becoming a powerful and foundational technology in research,” said William Phelps, PHD, our senior vice president, Extramural Research.

ACS did not fund either of these women, so the number of ACS-funded Nobel Laureates remains at 49. That number is a tribute to the Society’s Research program and the strength of its peer-review process.

Dr. Charpentier and Dr. Doudna, only the sixth and seventh women to receive the chemistry prize, pioneered early work on Crispr-Cas9, a kind of genetic scissors that allows researchers to alter the DNA of animals, plants and microorganisms with extremely high precision. Since then, it has been used in numerous scientific applications, from genetically modifying crops to developing cures-in-progress for conditions like sickle cell disease and hereditary blindness, according to The New York Times.

TOP PHOTO: Flanked by American Cancer CEO Gary Reedy (far left) and 2018 American Cancer Society Board Chair Kevin Cullen, MD (far right) are the 2018 recipients of the Medal of Honor. Their names and their award are, from left to right: Vice President Joe Biden, for Cancer Control; Emmanuelle Charpentier, PhD, for Basic Research; Charis Eng, MD, PhD, for Clinical Research; Jennifer A. Doudna, PhD, for Basic Research; and Michael J. Thun, MD, MS, for Cancer Control Science.

*Shared from MySocietySource.

Join the Oct. 26 webinar on Covid-19's impact on cancer research

On Monday, Oct. 26, at 12 p.m. PST, National Cancer Institute Director Dr. Ned Sharpless and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) will join ACS CAN for an event titled Reigniting Research: A Call to Action to Advance Cancer Research and Innovation. 

This freevirtual event will focus on the Covid-19 pandemic impact on cancer research, clinical trials and care, and what is needed now to reignite cancer research. 

Leaders from business, government, health care, and life sciences will join to learn about current challenges and actions that can be taken to help cancer research stay strong. Volunteers are invited to register here.

To learn more about additional virtual events ACS CAN is hosting throughout the month, visit fightcancer.org/events.

*Shared from MySocietySource.

 

Denim Days are back - with a twist

Denim Days will take place throughout October, with a national day of celebration on October 23rd.

Denim Days, presented by Buckle, is getting a makeover this year. Since so many people are working virtually from home due to COVID-19, participants are encouraged to “Unite To Fight” by joining or creating a team, “dressing up” their denim, and donating $5 or more to help save lives from breast cancer. New toolkit items include resources for virtual and in-office fundraising. To donate or learn more, visit www.acsdenimdays.org.

Denim Days will take place throughout the month of October, with a national day of celebration on Oct. 23. Proceeds support ACS’ breast cancer programs and services. 

Additionally, our corporate sponsor Buckle is offering their customers several ways to donate to ACS:

• Give-Back Denim: For every pair of regular-priced jeans purchased in-store and online from Oct. 4-25 from a participating brand, Buckle will contribute $1 to ACS. 
• Give-Back Tees: For every t-shirt with a “Unite to Fight” sticker sold from Oct. 4-25, Buckle will contribute 20% of the retail price to ACS. 
• Round Up at Register: From October 4-25, customers can 'round up' their total to the nearest dollar, with all proceeds going to ACS.  

You can find additional information and resources in the Denim Days toolkit on the Brand Toolkit. 

*Shared from MySocietySource.

Coronavirus health care delays and anxiety persist for cancer patients and survivors months Into pandemic

 

A full polling memo and an infographic summarizing the findings can be found on fightcancer.org.

Cancer patients and survivors continue to experience potentially serious coronavirus-related health care delays and high levels of anxiety associated with the ongoing pandemic, according to an American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) survey.

The survey found more than a quarter (26%) of cancer patients and survivors reported delays in their cancer care because of coronavirus. When looking at respondents in active treatment for their cancer, the number increased to nearly one in three (32%). This included 21% of patients in active treatment who reported a delayed or cancelled check-up or follow-up appointment specific to their cancer care, and nearly 1 in 10 (9%) whose medical facility-administered treatment—like chemotherapy or radiation—was affected. 

A driving factor behind the delays is anxiety among providers and patients alike about the risk of contracting the virus. While most delays in care were due to logistical reasons, like closed facilities (48%), when combined an even greater percentage of delays were due to patients who delayed or cancelled care due to their own (31%) or their providers’ (24%) concerns about patients contracting coronavirus. In total 64% of all respondents, and 74% of those in active treatment, said they were worried about their ability to stay safe if COVID-19 cases continue to increase.

“Seven months into this pandemic the continued delays cancer patients and survivors report are deeply concerning,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “The ongoing spread of the virus threatens to upend critical treatment schedules and delay preventive and diagnostic services that could result in more late-term diagnoses and poorer cancer outcomes for years to come.”

The survey also found 45% of respondents are worried if COVID-19 cases continue to rise the effect on the health care system will make it harder for them to access their cancer care. Already more than two-thirds of Americans report that their scheduled cancer screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, have been delayed or skipped during the COVID-19 crisis.

According to the survey, access to comprehensive health care that covers all necessary services—during the pandemic and beyond—is patients’ and survivors’ top health-related priority (51%), followed by the availability of such coverage should someone’s job change (20%). Nearly 1 in 5 (18%) patients and survivors surveyed prioritized reduced out-of-pocket costs for premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, and 8% identified reducing prescription drug costs as a top priority.

“Cancer patients and survivors are acutely aware of the critical importance of comprehensive health coverage and the need to have access to quality care even if your job changes or you’re laid off,” said Lisa. “Sadly, the pandemic and its associated economic fallout have made these priorities clear to many millions more Americans. The survey underscores the imperative that elected lawmakers at every level of government prioritize access to affordable, comprehensive care that maintains protections for those with pre-existing conditions.” 

The web-based survey was taken by 2,081 cancer patients and survivors between August 27, 2020 and September 14, 2020. This sample provides a margin of error +/- 3% and 99% confidence level.  

*Shared from MySocietySource. See more COVID-19 Pandemic Updates.

International Pronouns Day

 

International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace, learn more.

World Statistics Day

As the United Nations says, World Statistics Day is about connecting the world with data we can trust. In 2020 in the U.S., there will be an estimated 1,806,950 new cancer cases and 606,530 cancer deaths. Learn more about the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics Center at cancer.org

Reach To Recovery app launches to help newly diagnosed breast cancer patients

 

​People facing breast cancer can see possible volunteer matches immediately.

To better support the needs of those facing breast cancer, we are pleased to share that the Reach To Recovery® program is now available online and through a mobile app. 

Reach To Recovery connects people facing breast cancer – from diagnosis through survivorship – with trained volunteers who are breast cancer survivors. Our volunteers provide one-on-one support to help those facing breast cancer cope with diagnosis, treatment, side effects, and more. Volunteers do not provide medical advice.

The Reach To Recovery website and app allow those facing breast cancer to create an online profile and see possible volunteer matches immediately. Then they can connect at a time that is convenient for them. 

Starting in January 2021, all Reach To Recovery visits will be coordinated through the website and app.

Here's how it works:

• Join online: People facing breast cancer sign up and create their online profiles at reach.cancer.org or on the mobile app ACS Reach, available in the App Store and Google Play.
• Match: They can select the criteria that are important to them and see possible volunteer matches. Criteria include type of breast cancer, stage, hormone receptor status, treatment type, lymphedema, and more.
• Connect: They connect with a volunteer at a time that is convenient for them. 

“We’re excited to bring the proven benefits of the Reach To Recovery program to the next level, empowering survivors and patients to help each other no matter where they are in a way that is most convenient for them,” said Chuck Westbrook, senior vice president, Cancer Control Programs and Services.

*Shared from MySocietySource.

What can you do when cancer threatens a career?

 

A diagnosis of cancer often forces radical career changes. Career Central’s October 19th show at 11:00am EST hosted by Lorraine Beaman, draws upon the experiences of professional women who offer strategies for keeping jobs that are often critical to paying for medical expenses while confronting uncertain futures and not feeling their best.

Guests share a commitment to supporting people dealing with cancer. Amy Carabba-Salazar, communications expert, former news anchor, and award-winning journalist discusses how her cancer diagnosis impacted her career and how she now helps others. Alicia Perez, a teacher, received a breast cancer diagnosis that required her to pause teaching to cope with treatment and recovery. She shares how her fellow teachers supported her and led her to help others. Tina Hannon is an insurance agent by day and Co-Lead of Relay For Life of the Delta, a local-community-driven fundraising branch of the American Cancer Society that supports research, provides resources for families, and raises awareness about care and prevention resources.

More than 300,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, many of them will be employed. Learn how to face the challenges and support colleagues who must manage careers and cancer. 

Learn more, listen live, or listen to the episode later on demand.

Don't miss our first-ever national Making Strides broadcast on October 18 at 9am

Nothing can stop the Making Strides spirit! Although the American Cancer Society will not hold traditional, large scale-walks this year, survivors and supporters from across the nation are finding unique ways to celebrate – both locally and nationally.

Strides Live Across America ensures every community and survivor has an opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated. This broadcast will showcase and unite breast cancer survivors and communities from coast to coast during a unique, one-hour broadcast.

Strides Live Across America will be broadcast on Facebook, YouTube, and MakingStridesWalk.org on Sunday, Oct.18, at noon ET / 9 a.m. PT. Contribute or follow along on social media by using #StridesLive. 

There are plenty of unique events and activations happening in many markets across the country. Please be sure to check out your local event page to learn more about Making Strides activities close to home.

*Shared from MySocietySource.

National Mammography Day

 

Today, on National Mammography Day we recommend all women ages 40 and older to schedule their mammogram. Learn more about recommendations for early breast cancer screenings and about mammograms at cancer.org.

Global Handwashing Day

 

It is Global Handwashing Day! The CDC explains that regular handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. Whether you are at home, at work, traveling, or out in the community, find out how handwashing with soap and water can protect you and your family

Microsoft celebrates $10M in donations to ACS

​The tech giant and its employees have been loyal supporters since 1988

Every year in October, Microsoft kicks off their annual giving campaign with employee volunteerism and fundraising. This year, Microsoft has surpassed a milestone of $10 million in contributions to the American Cancer Society, helping save countless lives and funding cancer research grants, programs, and services.

Microsoft’s payroll deduction and matching programs are one of the best in the country, with employee donations and volunteer time matched up to $15,000 per year per employee.

"Microsoft's contributions to the American Cancer Society, through funding and employee time, have been vital to the work that we do,” said Daniel Widner, our vice president of Regional Distinguished Partners. “Microsoft's giving model allows for great impact through innovation and involvement across the nation. We are grateful for every employee who has helped us achieve our mission"

This year, Microsoft and ACS will promote a joint project—Notes of Hope—where employees create handwritten notes of encouragement and well wishes to cancer patients staying at one of our Hope Lodge facilities, as well as contributing $25 an hour in volunteer match. 

Learn more about Microsoft’s partnership with ACS.

*Shared from MySocietySource.