The Global Fight Against Cancer

Society Meets with Vietnam Cancer Control Leaders

Nancy Lins, senior international cancer control officer and American Cancer Society liaison to the International Union Against Cancer, visited Vietnam and met with Vietnamese government and civil society representatives to discuss future cancer control plans. Led by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the trip included visits to the National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi Cancer Hospital, the Department of Oncology of Bach Mai General Hospital, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office. Lins also visited the Ministry of Health, where she met with the Minister of Health and other high-ranking officials to discuss public health, chronic and non-communicable diseases, health education, cancer control education and training, and disease prevention. A key topic was radiation protection, which included a meeting with the director of the Atomic Energy Commission, a WHO country representative, leading officials at the National Cancer Institute and the national clinical laboratory, leading oncologists in main hospitals, leading cancer NGOs and civil society organizations, and officials from university faculties of medicine. As a result of these meetings, a draft for cancer control support for Vietnam is under development.

Slovenia Hosts Great West Division Volunteer at Relay Training

   

The first in-country training in Slovenia was held in Ljubljana the second week of November. This training was attended by 12 participants and one volunteer from the Great West, Shelley Mauss. Although Slovenia has participated in Relay For Life for the last several years, the country’s Relay organizers are looking forward to applying the skills they have learned to the upcoming events. The Slovenian Relay For Life (Hoja za Življenje za Pre Živele Z Rakom, RTF) is scheduled for spring 2007.

American Cancer Society Partakes in Landmark Global Youth Meet on Health in India

Dr. Sinead Jones, UICC, addresses the youth leaders at the opening session of GYM

Dr. Sinead Jones from the International Union Against Cancer’s Global Smoke-free Partnership and Cassandra Welch, manager of international tobacco programs at the American Cancer Society, attended the Global Youth Meet on Health (GYM) November 14-15, 2006, in New Delhi.  The opening ceremony included 10,000 students and a presentation from India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.  Also in attendance with India’s Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Anbumani Ramadoss, who is a 2006 American Cancer Society Luther Terry Awardee.  The GYM was the first ever global youth meeting on health; its aim was to empower young people to become informed advocates for policies that will promote the health of their generation.  The GYM was organized by Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth and Student Health Action Network (HRIDAY-SHAN).  The American Cancer Society was a partner in the event and Shalini Vallabhan, director of south Asia strategies and programs, served on the international advisory committee.  A total of 200 youth leaders from 40 different countries participated in the six day workshop, which focused on issues such as tobacco prevention and control, diet and nutrition, physical activity, environment protection, gender relations, road safety and peace, and non-violent conflict resolution.  Cassandra Welch facilitated a session on policymaker advocacy where youth leaders simulated legislative meetings with policymakers.  The GYM meeting was held in conjunction with a meeting on the development of cross-border advertising protocol for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Stronger Anti-Smoking Efforts Needed Across China

China Economic Net/Xinhaunet- China November 18, 2006

“No smoking” signs are seen throughout China — on buses, in hospitals, and in schools and stores. These signs, however, do not mean that smoking is banned.  Progress of anti-tobacco law enforcement in China has been slow, resulting in high cancer statistics.  It is estimated that China has approximately 320 million smokers, which account for one-quarter of the world’s total.  Unfortunately, this results in approximately 750,000 smoking related deaths each year.

Relay For Life Training Held in France

Twenty staff and volunteers from the Ligue Contre le Cancer (LCC) gathered in Paris, France, November 9-10 for an International Relay For Life in-country training. Representing 10 communities in France and Martinique, the volunteers took the first steps in planning to bring Relay (Relais Pour La Vie) to their towns and regions. American Cancer Society volunteer Alice-anne Loych joined the International Relay Team as volunteer trainer and translator for this French-language training. The passion and enthusiasm of the LCC’s volunteers guarantees that the expansion of Relay throughout France will be a great success.

South Atlantic Division Participates in Kerala Mela Indian Festival

On Saturday, October 28th, several South Atlantic Division staff  Sonia Nieves and Asia Director Shalini Vallabhan staffed a Society booth at the Kerala Mela festivities in Washington, D.C.  This day-long event is organized by the Malayalee community and focuses on increasing awareness of the beauty and charm of the state of Kerala as well as provides an opportunity for visitors to experience Kerala’s culture, and familiarize with Kerala’s development in education, holistic and herbal medicine, and quality of life.  The American Cancer Society’s booth provided educational materials as well as on-site staff to answer any questions on both the Society’s domestic and international efforts.

High Plains and Eastern Division Representatives Address Oncology Conference in China

Dr. Woolham outside of conference hall in Tianjing, China

High Plains Division volunteer Gerald Woolham, MD, participated in the fourth annual Chinese Conference on Oncology held in Oct. in Tianjing, China. Dr. Woolham, who was personally received by the mayor of Tianjing, gave a presentation to 2000 physicians on breast cancer screening techniques, and offered closing remarks during the conference. Ming-der Chan, PhD, Vice President of the Asian Unit in the Eastern Division, delivered a presentation on the Society's patient navigation system.   

American Cancer Society Fosters Collaboration with Korean Partners

Dr. Shalini Vallabhan (center) meets with Sang Hee Cho (on her right) and Dr. Dong-Young Noh (on her left), as well as several Korean Cancer Society staff members during a recent visit to Korea.

In October 2006, Shalini Vallabhan, Director of Asia Cancer Control Strategies, met with several cancer control leaders in Korea from the nongovernmental, governmental, and private hospital sectors.  Sang Hee Cho, the Society’s representative in Korea, has built strong relationships with several cancer control leaders, including Yoon-Ok Ahn, MD, PhD, the current president of the Korean Cancer Society and Dong-Young Noh, MD, PhD, a leading breast cancer surgeon and volunteer leader of the Venus Foundation. Both Drs. Ahn and Noh are American Cancer Society University alumni. Sang Hee Cho and Shalini Vallabhan discussed several opportunities for collaborative cancer control work in Korea and with Korean communities in the United States. During her visit, Dr. Vallabhan visited Korea's National Cancer Center, Seoul National University Hospital, and the Korean Cancer Society.  Discussions focused on collaboartive colorectal cancer and tobacco control campaigns. 

The American Cancer Society’s Korea program is an international partnership fostered by the Society's Eastern Division, which has pioneered cancer control outreach to Korean communities in the New York City metroplitan area.

Participants Unite for Second Relay For Life in Taiwan

Chuck DeGooyer, chief of staff and operations of the Great West Division, with Taiwan Relay For Life Chairs

This past week, Taiwan successfully launched its second Relay For Life®. The Taiwan Cancer Society coordinated this event in conjunction with the Hope Society for Cancer Care, the John Tung Foundation, and the Formosa Cancer Foundation. Approximately 60 teams and 200 participants walked in the 16-hour event. Sixty cancer survivors participated, beginning with the high-spirited survivors lap that opened the event. As night fell, participants gathered around luminaria bags set in the form of a heart in the Relay infield. The luminaria ceremony was especially touching and included an opportunity for survivors to share their stories. International Relay was privileged to have Chuck DeGooyer, chief of staff and operations of the Great West Division, attend and lend his support to the event.

Great West, California, and Eastern Divisions Help Launch First ACSU in Taiwan

Chuck DeGooyer, Great West Division Chief Operations Officer, several staff and volunteers from the Northern California Chinese Unit (NCCU), and the Eastern Division's Asia unit helped launch the first ACSU in Taiwan, held in Oct. 2006. Together with June Chan in International Affairs, several California Division and NCCU volunteers facilitated sessions at this ACSU including Emery Kong and Dr. Marion Lee, past presidents of the NCCU and Juchi Tang-Liu, an NCCU volunteer and donor. Nora Chang Wang, an Eastern Division volunteer and donor, and Ming-der Chang, Vice President of the Asia Unit in New York, also facilitated this ACSU which was attended by 26 scholars from 15 different organizations. The ACSU was sponsored by TTY Biopharma and the Taiwan Bureau of Health Promotions, and supported by the Hope Society for Cancer Care. The new curriculum included translations of all materials into Chinese as well as modules including community needs assessment, volunteerism, fundraising, advocacy, collaboration, patient services, media relations, program planning and management, and governance and administration. Special presentations included Complementary and Alternative Therapies by Dr. Marion Lee and Tobacco Control in Taiwan by the John Tung Foundation. Following this ACSU, the Taiwan Bureau of Health Promotion will provide US$120,000 in seed grants and will collaborate with the ACS on follow-up projects stemming from this successful weeklong training.