Cancer Facts

Having cancer is hard. Finding help shouldn’t be. The American Cancer Society is in your corner around the clock to help you through every step of the cancer experience. We are here every minute of every day and night at 1-800-227-2345 and cancer.org.  These facts demonstrate the work the American Cancer Society has accomplished and reminds all of us that together, we can create a world with less cancer and more birthdays!

• The American Cancer Society combines a never-ending passion with the wisdom of nearly a century of experience to save lives by helping you stay well, helping you get well, by finding cures, and fighting back. Learn more at cancer.org.
• One of the many ways the American Cancer Society saves lives is by finding cures through groundbreaking research. In 2008, the American Cancer Society spent $138 million on cancer research and has invested more than $3.4 billion in cancer research since its research program began in 1946.
• More than 11 million Americans who have a history of cancer will celebrate another birthday this year. The American Cancer Society knows how special a birthday can be: a celebration of life, a marker of progress. Join us, and together we’ll save more lives and help everyone celebrate more birthdays. Find out more at 1-800-227-2345 or morebirthdays.com.
• Nearly half of all cancers could be prevented. Learn how to stay well and reduce your risk of cancer by making healthy lifestyle choices at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
• When you support the American Cancer Society, you are helping create a world with more birthdays and less cancer a world where cancer can’t steal another year from anyone’s life.
• Having cancer is hard. Having to travel out of town for treatment can make it even harder. The American Cancer Society provides free temporary lodging to patients and their caregivers who must travel far from home to get quality cancer treatment at our Hope Lodge® facilities. To find out if there is a Hope Lodge in your area, call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org/hopelodge.
• Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who has "been there." The American Cancer Society Cancer Survivors NetworkSM is an online community for cancer survivors and their family and friends where people can connect with others who have been through the cancer experience. Visit cancer.org/csn to learn more, get support, be inspired by people’s stories, and even share your own story.
• Lack of health insurance and other barriers prevent many Americans from receiving quality health care. To learn more about what the American Cancer Society is doing to help all people have access to health care, visit cancer.org/access.
• One of the ways the American Cancer Society saves lives is by helping people stay well and taking steps to prevent cancer or detect it early. Learn how making healthy lifestyle choices can help reduce your cancer risk at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
• To stay well and reduce your cancer risk, strive for at least 30 minutes of exercise in addition to your usual activities on 5 or more days each week.
• Get help quitting smoking for yourself or a loved one, or join the fight against tobacco as an advocate for smoke-free communities at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
• Want to learn ways to have more energy, feel better, and lower your stress level … all while staying well from cancer? Find activities to fit your lifestyle and get ideas for raising active kids at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
• Don’t think you have time for a workout? Many people don’t know that they can benefit from small amounts of moderate activity throughout the day. Regular physical activity is easier to fit in than you may realize and can help lower your lifetime risk for cancer and stay well. To learn more, visit cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
• You can take charge of your health! One-third of all cancer deaths could be prevented with proper diet and exercise. Learn more about how you can stay well at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.
• Obesity is the fastest growing health problem in the United States. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of developing or dying from several diseases, including certain types of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Learn how to stay well and reduce your risk of cancer and other diseases at cancer.org/GreatAmericans.