The Global Fight Against Cancer

American Cancer Society Launches Quitline® Program in India

On December 9, the American Cancer Society launched its Quitline® program in India, becoming the first provider of a tobacco cessation counseling service in India. Quitline is a free, clinically proven, telephone-based counseling program that provides counseling and pharmacological services to people who want to quit smoking. The American Cancer Society is partnering with multinational employers operating in India to make this service available to their employees. The introduction of the Quitline program is critically important in India, where as much as one-third of the population smokes tobacco and many more use an array of smokeless tobacco products. Tobacco use is the leading cause of cancer in India. On October 2, India implemented a nationwide smoke-free law, making this a critical time for employers in India to offer Quitline services to their workers. For more information on the American Cancer Society’s Quitline services for multinational employers, please visit http://www.acsworkplacesolutions.com/

 

American Cancer Society’s 2009 Luther L. Terry Award Recipients Announced

On December 12, the American Cancer Society announced the 2009 Luther L. Terry Award recipients, recognizing leading tobacco control advocates and experts who have shown exemplary achievement and leadership in the field of tobacco control. The American Cancer Society presents the Luther L. Terry Awards triennially and in conjunction with the World Conference on Tobacco OR Health to commemorate the work of the late United States Surgeon General, Luther L. Terry, MD. Dr. Terry led the 1964 Surgeon General’s report which connected tobacco use to lung cancer and other illnesses, and the awards honor those who carry on Dr. Terry’s legacy. The 2009 awards will be presented in March during a special ceremony at the 14th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health in Mumbai, India.
Recipients of the 2009 Luther L. Terry Awards are as follows:
• Recipient of the Distinguished Career Award: Stanton Arnold Glantz, PhD, United States
• Recipient of the Exemplary Leadership by a Government Ministry Award: The Ministry of Health of the Government of Uruguay
• Recipients of the Outstanding Individual Leadership Award: Ronald M. Davis, MD, United States; and K. Srinath Reddy, MD, DM, MSc, FAMS, India
• Recipient of the Outstanding Organization Award: The InterAmerican Heart Foundation
• Recipient of the Outstanding Research Contribution Award: K. Michael Cummings, PhD, MPH, United States
• Recipient of the Outstanding Community Service Award: Dileep G. Bal, MD, MPH, MS, United States; and Hatai Chitanondh, MD, FICS, FRCS (T), Thailand

American Cancer Society Honors Excellence in Patient Care at Second Annual Latin American Best Practice Awards

 

From left to right: Orlando Martinez Granera; Asociación para la Salud Comunitaria, Nicaragua, First Prize for Patient Services; Guadalupe Alejandre, Asociación Mexicana de Ayuda a Niños con Cáncer (AMANC), Mexico, Volunteer of the Year; Patricio Gonzalez, Asociación Mexicana de Leucemia y Gist, Mexico, Second Prize for Emotional Support

On November 21, the American Cancer Society held its second annual Latin American Best Practice Awards (“Premio Excelencia Latina”) ceremony in Mexico City, Mexico, honoring representatives of Latin American cancer control nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) who demonstrated excellence in patient care this year. The ceremony was led by Elmer E. Huerta, MD, MPH, former president of the American Cancer Society, and Alessandra Durstine, vice president of regional strategies and director of Latin American programs for the American Cancer Society. The six award winners, from Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Nicaragua, were chosen from about 100 nominations through an American Cancer Society peer review process. In addition to bestowing these awards, the American Cancer Society will provide future support for the programs conducted by the award winners. The awards ceremony was covered by several Mexican media organizations.

New World Cancer Report Released by IARC; U.S. Groups List Six Critical Steps the New U.S. Administration Can Take

 
Speakers at the December 9 news conference in Atlanta

The nation’s leading cancer organizations joined forces today at an event called Conquering Cancer: A Global Effort, to focus attention on the growing global cancer burden and discuss efforts needed to address the problem. The American Cancer Society, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure discussed how each organization is addressing the growing global cancer burden and together issued a call to action for the incoming United States presidential administration and Congress. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released the new edition of the World Cancer Report, which shows that cancer will be the leading global cause of death by 2010. Other speakers included the Director of the Mexican National Cancer Institute and a cancer survivor. In addition, a new international documentary film entitled "Cancer Is…" was premiered.

Click on the following link to see a replay of the December 9 news conference. When you launch the presentation, you can watch the full video or click on "chapters" to watch particular speakers.

Leading Cancer Organizations to Come Together to Fight Global Cancer and Release New World Cancer Report

On Tuesday, December 9, 2008, the American Cancer Society, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure will join forces with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the National Cancer Institute of Mexico at a news conference in Atlanta to release the new edition of the World Cancer Report that focuses on the growing global cancer burden. According to estimates, cancer will be the leading cause of death globally in the year 2010. The organizations will discuss efforts underway to address the burden. The news conference will also provide the domestic launch of a new documentary film series focused on the global cancer problem titled “Cancer Is…” produced by Cemil Alyanak.

American Cancer Society Conducts Advocacy Workshop at Brazilian Breast Cancer Coalition Meeting

Dr. Maira Caleffi, founder of FEMAMA (left), speaking at the advocacy workshop, with American Cancer Society staff members Cristina Parsons-Perez (center), manager of Latin America Cancer Initiatives, and Gustavo Azenha, manager of Brazil Programs (right)

Representatives of the American Cancer Society participated in the second annual meeting of FEMAMA (Brazilian Federation of Philanthropic Institutions for the Breast Health Support), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 6-7. FEMAMA, founded in 2006, is a coalition of more than 30 nongovernmental organizations within Brazil working together to improve breast health, decrease breast cancer mortality rates, enhance the quality of screening and treatments, and empower survivors to shape health policies. During the meeting, American Cancer Society staff members Cristina Parsons-Perez, manager of Latin America Cancer Initiatives, and Gustavo Azenha, manager of Brazil Programs, conducted a hands-on advocacy workshop aimed at fostering collaboration and strategic planning around breast cancer advocacy. The American Cancer Society’s participation in this meeting is part of the newly initiated three-year Brazil Breast Cancer Action Program, designed to strengthen the FEMAMA coalition by providing training for its members, grant opportunities, and other initiatives. Going forward, the American Cancer Society’s work in Brazil will also include developing patient navigation programs, media initiatives, and other informational activities. For more information about FEMAMA, please visit their Web site at http://www.femama.org.br/site/principal/index.php.