The Global Fight Against Cancer

Society Participates in Middle East Cancer Consortium Palliative Care Workshop in Larnaca, Cyprus

American Cancer Society staff attended the Middle East Cancer Consortium's three day workshop on best practices in palliative care held June 22-24 in Larnaca, Cyprus. Delegates travelled from all Middle East Cancer Consortium member states; Egypt, Jordan, Palestinian Authority, Cyprus, Turkey, Israel, and the United States. Participants from the United States represented the US National Cancer Institute and Georgetown University's Lombardi Cancer Center, in addition to the American Cancer Society. Health professionals discussed strategies for communicating diagnoses and treatment choices to families of children with cancer, relieving pain at the end of life, and addressing cultural differences in the ways people cope with pain and death.  The Middle East Cancer Consortium workshop participants welcomed the American Cancer Society's involvement in the Middle East region and requested Society collaboration to develop continuing education opportunities for palliative care health professionals from Middle East countries.

Society Works to Strengthen Tobacco Control in West Africa

In conjunction with the French National Cancer Institute, the Norwegian Cancer Institute, the Action on Smoking and Health, and the Framework Convention Alliance, the American Cancer Society recently convened the second Francophone West Africa workshop to support the implementation, enforcement and monitoring of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This workshop, held in Niamey, Niger, on June 7-11, 2006, focused on strateiges to build the capacity of Francophone countries to prepare participants for FCTC tobacco control projects in their countries. Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, some of the world's poorest countries, are among some of the developing countries specifically targeted by the tobacco industry.  If current trends continue, West African countries will suffer tragic health consequences from tobacco use and addiction in the coming decades.

Society Launches First American Cancer Society University (ACSU) in Japan

Eastern Division President Dr. Carmel Cohen During a Press Conference following ACSU.

During the first week of June, the Society launched its first and very successful American Cancer Society University in Japan. Eastern Division president Carmel Cohen, MD, facilitated a cancer control training session and also led a press conference following the ACSU and attended by members of leading Japanese news organizations. Approximately 20 professionals from Japan patient and cancer organizations participated in this ACSU training, held in Tokyo. This ACSU also marked the official launch of the Japan Initiative for Cancer Patients (JICP), a partnership convened by the American Cancer Society and members of the Japan Cancer Society, the Japan National Cancer Center, and the University of Tokyo. The JICP provides a collaborative forum by which national and local patient groups will launch cancer control activities throughout the nation. The ACSU was made funded through a grant by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

Society Supports Guatemala Tobacco Control Programs

Dr. Jesus Amando Chavarria, Dr. Ana Garces, Dr. Terry Fontham, Dr. Tom Glynn, Catherine Jo, Ohio COO Jeff Davis

An ACS delegation including Dr. Terry Fontham, volunteer for the Mid-South Division, and Jeff Davis, Chief Operating Officer, Ohio Division visited Guatemala this past week to conduct a second site inspection of the Guatemala Center for Excellence in Tobacco Control, a successful pilot program funded by the Society. The group also participated in events organized by the Anti-Tobacco Council of Guatemala in celebration of World No Tobacco Day. The main event of the celebration was a concert that took place on Friday, May 26, which was facilitated by IMSALUD and sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Many famous local bands and celebrities participated and spoke enthusiastically about the dangers of tobacco consumption. Another highlight was a workshop organized with members of the municipality and the mayor on May 31. During this workshop, the group established that by 2007, all of the buildings of the municipality will be smoke free. A workshop was also organized for health professionals to develop strategies for the national anti-tobacco war in Guatemala. The Society delegation was also interviewed by local media and met with high ranking government officials in order to provide guidance to the anti-tobacco movement in Guatemala.

France Launches Relay For Life

On June 11, France launched Relay For Life® - "Relais Pour La Vie" - in the small town of Diemeringen nestled in the Alsace region. Response to the event was extraordinary, demonstrating the potential for successful Relays in more communities throughout France. Nearly 2,000 people participated and representatives from 25 teams walking during the course of 24 hours. As the event began, a participant who was named the event patron, Guy Rossi, began his courageous quest to run the entire 24 hours to honor his mother, who had recently lost her fight with cancer. Rossi was an inspiration to the survivors, caregivers, families, and teams who cheered him throughout the hot day and chilly evening temperatures until he realized his goal. While the event remained true to Relay standards, it had a distinct French style - such as a winding walking route, a bike course parallel to the walkers, and a 24-hour paint-a-thon that resulted in an art auction that raised 325 EURO. Other activities and entertainment included a miniature World Cup soccer tournament, a thrilling capoeira demonstration, a performance of alpine horn players, and local school children performing Western-style line dancing and folk dancing. This Relais Pour La Vie raised 30,000 EURO for the Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (LNCC) and served as a springboard for an ambitious Relay expansion in 2007, with the next event scheduled for Toulouse.