Loading

Our Fight Starts With You YOUR AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY UPDATE

In a word: relentless. Just as the American Cancer Society has relentlessly pursued the battle against cancer for more than a century, so have you relentlessly supported our pursuit. And over the past year, your dedication has meant more than ever before.

I am so grateful to you, our steadfast supporters, for ensuring that while the world seemed to turn upside down, the American Cancer Society could continue focusing on cancer patients, their caregivers, survivors – and those who will never experience cancer thanks to our efforts in prevention.

Despite the incredibly challenging start of the decade – the aftermath of which we do not yet know – we are seeing continued progress against the disease. And even as a leaner organization, we are building big plans to become more focused and impactful. As we work to reduce cancer mortality an additional 40% by 2035, we are urging people to resume cancer screening efforts, improving equitable access to care, and reducing long-standing disparities in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and outcomes. We will do this more efficiently and more effectively than ever before to create the greatest impact for the greatest number of people.

Yet, we cannot do this work without you. So thank you for supporting your American Cancer Society. We are stronger, we are hopeful, and we are prepared to relentlessly pursue our mission to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer.

Gary M. Reedy | CEO, American Cancer Society

Today’s Research Breakthroughs are Tomorrow’s Treatments

This year, the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Research program celebrates 75 years of commitment to progress in the fight against cancer. During this time, we’ve played a role in almost every major cancer research breakthrough in the last century and funded the research of 49 investigators who went on to win the Nobel Prize. Our innovative cancer research programs span across a wide range of disciplines to meet critically important needs. The research we conduct and fund transforms the way we treat and prevent cancer – and through this work we save lives every day.

Research informs prevention, patient support, advocacy and health equity efforts. The investigations we conduct and fund happen through several different channels and extend beyond our agency into over 200 institutions nationwide. In all facets of our work, we strive to expand our efforts to understand and overcome health disparities – in the laboratory, through population and surveillance studies, and within the communities we serve.

Right now, the American Cancer Society is funding over 700 high impact and innovative extramural research grants looking at cancer from bench to bedside. These grants improve our knowledge of nearly every aspect of cancer – from what causes it to how we can end it. We publish over 200 articles authorized by American Cancer Society’s internal expert researchers in leading scientific journals every year.

Another $100 million is needed to fund over 170 more promising extramural research projects that are on hold due to a lack of funds. These projects were ranked outstanding – the highest possible score – by our two-level peer review process.

Visit cancer.org/cancercantwait to learn more.

“It’s really scary to think that the best and brightest ideas in how we can attack cancer might be sitting on a shelf in a lab somewhere because there wasn’t enough funding.” - Rachel, Metastatic Breast Cancer Thriver

The Stories that Fuel Us

“My hair is gone. Leading up to yesterday, I wanted to feel some type of power but instead it felt like counting down the days until I had to turn in my crown. Many people have told me that it’s just hair and it’ll grow back and when I compare it to being alive then yes, it’s just hair. But it still hurts. It’s still another loss. I’ve had this hair my whole life. 30 years. I loved that hair. So much so that if you know me, you know I didn’t change it much. Never colored it. Never put any chemicals on it. I loved that hair so much. India Arie said, “I am not my hair. I am not this skin. I am the soul that lives within.” And that’s the truth. I woke up this morning and my soul felt on fire. I feel like a warrior from Black Panther. I’m ready to slay. I’m ready for the next battle which is chemo tomorrow. I am ready for this next fight in front of me. I couldn’t of done yesterday without my people. I love them beyond words. #imalive Thank you _madcreations for capturing this sacred moment. ♥️” - Aisha

“Admitted and prepped for surgery! I will be having the lump in my breast removed today. They will be testing to make sure that it is not cancerous, but my doctors believe that it is benign. Prayers and good vibes that surgery is quick and without complications. Nothing can hold me down for long! 💗” - Britt Marie

“Chemo #4! I’ll be honest, I’m starting to feel a little worn down now that I'm halfway through. At the end of round 3 I was able to enjoy a much-needed long weekend camping trip, but then reality hit me right back in the face. I’m trying to keep up the positive attitude but I appreciate your continued support these days. This is my very first marathon and I’m now officially on the second half 😊” - Daniele

“📸: nervous in the OR prep room around 6:15am before it all went down / post cry sesh / also the last time this body had all the C inside, bleh! + Went from years without a popsicle to several a day. Highlights of my days. Yum! + My outside time..this courtyard is so gorgeous/peaceful + Blessed by so many. Made being between 4 walls longterm more enjoyable. Love you all💐 + It me! With my fave tree🌲 🦽 . 🎥: first time arriving into ICU room after the 11 hour surgery. we began 8am - ended 6:35pm on June 23. Includes a cool way to get into bed 🏗 + surgery was a success👏🏼 / My incredible surgeon who saved my life. Fave part: ‘I’m glad we did this’ 🙌🏽 . 🙏🏼: to God and all of you for sticking with me this far while making sure I feel your presence & love during the hardest month of my life. Thank you SO much” - Dee

“Thank you everyone for your endless support and love. Once I was a bit more compos mentis it was lovely to receive the messages I did and power me through the hours post surgery. Brain surgery is no tickle, it’s been incredibly tough. The pain is pretty severe but the waves of nausea are actually the worst. If not being able to open my mouth from cutting through the muscle won’t stop me eating, feeling like your on a roundabout and going to hurl every 5 minutes definitely will! But thankfully the staff in ICU have been amazing in keeping me dosed up and I'm on regular anti-sickness and painkillers to help me through 😊 Having to have three separate IVs but veins that have had enough have left me with 10 holes in my arms and a lot of bruising but today we are fully off IV drugs and recovery is going strong. The swelling and bruising in my face is coming through now but it’s expected to get worse before it gets better so just got to fully embrace the MMA look😅 the delightful cracking sound in my head is pretty grim but just working through it and I’m grateful to my body for being strong enough to get me through surgery and making a speedy recovery. In the end, it was deemed too risky to remove the whole thing as it had attached itself to too many nerves. I have a lot of numbness in my face already where the nerves have been annoyed but this should make a full recovery in a few months 🤞🏼 but at least we got the most part out and this can be tested. Right now I don’t want to think about the pathology report, I’m taking one thing at a time. It’s going to be a very long frightening week but just taking one day at a time and focusing on getting home, recovering well and eating a lot of ice cream! P.S check your boobs🙏🏻” - Fran

“Here we go port placement time see you guys when I wake up.” - Lisa

When Treatment is Far, Hope Lodge is Home.

While our Hope Lodge locations have been closed, we have taken the opportunity to continue updates, expansions, and renovation projects that will provide for more comforts and accessibility when we can again welcome guests. Doing this work now, during the temporary lodge closures, allows these projects as well as minor updates to flooring, HVAC equipment and paint refreshes to move forward without disturbing or inconveniencing guests during their stays.

Additionally, all locations have made safety preparations for reducing the spread of COVID-19 by including more sanitizing stations, installing signage and plexiglass barriers, spacing furnishings and seating to support social distancing, and training preparation for new processes necessary to protect guests and staff upon Hope Lodge reopening.

We are hopeful that conditions will allow for Hope Lodge facilities to reopen later this year.

Here are just a few of the updates happening right now:

  • Our American Cancer Society Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge in Houston is now complete and ready to serve guests in our largest-ever 64 room site.
  • The Astra-Zeneca Hope Lodge Center in Boston will offer 5 more guest rooms and a newly remodeled/expanded kitchen and dining area with construction completing in Spring 2021.
  • In St. Louis we are putting the finishing touches on the new American Cancer Society World Wide Technology Hope Lodge, which involved the redesign of an American Cancer Society office building that was next door to the former lodge location.
  • Construction continues on the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Atlanta, adding five guest suites and a complete renovation of the common areas including the kitchen and dining rooms.
  • The Gene and Jerry Jones Hope Lodge in Dallas is expected to complete construction in the Spring and be open to guests later in 2021.
  • We will break ground on the American Cancer Society Chad Richison Hope Lodge in Oklahoma City in February 2021 with an expected opening in Spring 2022.
  • We are also in the beginning stages to move our Baltimore Hope Lodge across the street into a former hospitality house, which will increase our guest rooms from 26 to 34.
  • In January 2021, the renovation of all guest bathrooms in our American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Jerome L. Greene Family Center in New York City was completed.
  • The AstraZeneca Hope Lodge of the American Cancer Society in Philadelphia has completed the guest bathroom renovation project and planning has started for the kitchen and dining room refresh which is expected to be completed in mid-2021.
  • Our Lexington Hope Lodge is getting some much-needed repairs on the exterior which include improved insulation and weatherproofing.
  • Construction has begun at our Joseph S. and Jeannette M. Silber American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Cleveland. Updates will include an expanded kitchen and dining room. That will prepare us for the next phase – an 11-room expansion and guest bathroom update in existing rooms – once funds are raised.

My father’s name is Timothy M. Long, and he died on May 1, 2014.

He stayed at Hope Lodge with my mother in 2000 while he battled non small cell lung cancer. He adored Hope Lodge at once took great comfort in the welcoming and accepting environment there. As my mother would say: “It was his safe space”. I can recall him expressing relief that no matter what was going on or what you had to do, you could do it at Hope Lodge without feeling uncomfortable. He knew it wouldn’t raise any attention at all to eat baby food when his esophagus was inflamed by radiation treatment, or to just be sick. He could spend time alone, with family, or with beloved housemates who became extended family. It’s perfectly safe and perhaps a bit understated to say he loved Paul and Angela and all of the staff and volunteers. His children and family feel the same.

Following his initial stay at the “Original” Hope Lodge, just a few doors down on East Avenue, he enjoyed thirteen beautiful years cancer-free. He would still frequent Vermont to visit his children who live here, and he was delighted to see the current building evolve, from the demolition of existing structures to the exquisite facility we love, today.

Though bittersweet, the return to familiar faces and Hope Lodge did, in many ways, feel like coming home. It’s our home.

My father was a gentleman, He was kind and affectionate; we all spent our childhoods in his arms. His snuggles and hugs were the absolute best, and his love of flannel and plaid: legendary. It’s hard for me to find a picture of him not wearing a plaid flannel shirt! I still have the last flannel shirt I bought for him – a red and black buffalo plaid from The Vermont Flannel Company. While it’s way to big, I wear it every year on his birthday and every time I need that hug. It warms my soul. Really, can a hug ever be too big?

Recently a generous gift of “Tim Long’s famous flannel hugs” was donated by his wife, Debbie, his four children: Timothy P. Long, Tracy Bird, Jennifer Long, Zachary Long, and family in celebration of his 80th birthday. Their hope is that those that stay at the lodge, once it can re-open, feel safe, loved, accepted, and remembered every time they wear one!

Always Available. Because No One Should Have to Face Cancer Alone.

The American Cancer Society National Cancer Information Center (NCIC) offers support and assistance for cancer patients, caregivers, families and communities. Our Helpline and Live Chat are available 24/7/365, ensuring that there’s always someone available. Our cancer specialists offer support, provide resources, and listen to anyone impacted by cancer.

Since January 1997, NCIC has been there for millions of people. We assisted more than 400,000 people in 2020 alone — a year that was more complicated and frightening for cancer patients than ever before. We were able to provide guidance and direction about the impact of COVID-19 on cancer treatment, care, and prevention.

“The young lady I spoke with was very patient, understanding & informative. She also didn’t hesitate striving to find different ways & ideas to assist me with resources for my mother. My nerves were so out of whack, so was a complete emotional wreck. She was able to put my mind at ease with just her patience, empathy & compassion for others & what she does. I’m eternally grateful to her.” - Natosha, helpline caller

Cancer is a disease that affects everyone, but it does not affect everyone equally.

The American Cancer Society believes everyone deserves a fair and just opportunity to benefit from the progress made in the fight against cancer. Access to high quality health care to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer should not be dependent on income, age, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or where people live or work. Systemic barriers can affect every step of cancer care – from prevention and screening to treatment and the quality of life during survivorship. Advancing health equity means providing specific tools and resources based on individual needs to allow everyone the opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Health equity is not the same as equality, which means providing everyone with the same tools and resources, regardless of their individual situation and needs.

We are committed to advancing health equity through our research priorities, programs, services, and through ACS CAN’s advocacy. Also, this year we are excited to announce the launch of Diversity in Research Internships. This program will promote a more diverse and inclusive scientific workforce, which is critical to invigorate problem-solving, drives innovation – and ultimately better equips the scientific community in addressing inequities that exist in cancer prevention, treatment and care.

On behalf of all those we serve, thank you.