The Global Fight Against Cancer

WATCH – Dr. Seffrin to Appear on Weekend Airing of ‘House Call’ with Dr. Sanjay Gupta

This weekend, Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports from Dublin, Ireland, from the first-ever LiveStrong Global Cancer Summit on progress in the fight against cancer around the world, tobacco control, and eliminating the stigma of cancer. In an interview with American Cancer Society CEO Dr. John Seffrin, Gupta talks about the passing of U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, reports on Senator Kennedy’s courageous battle against brain cancer, and his example as an “empowered patient.”  Dr. Gupta also interviews Dr. Henry Friedman, an internationally-renown neuro-oncologist at the Robert Preston Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University in North Carolina, and discusses treatments for brain tumors.

American Cancer Society Hosts Panel Discussion on Stigma of Cancer at Livestrong Global Cancer Summit

Greg Donaldson, national vice president of Corporate Communications for the American Cancer Society moderates a panel discussion on cancer stigma. Panelists include (from left to right): Dr. Xishan Hao, president of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association; Dr. M. R. Rajagopal, founder and chairman of Pallium India; Dr. Alejandro Mohar, director of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico; Rick Lyke, cancer survivor and founder of Pints for Prostates, a nonprofit based in the United States; and Molebatsi Pooe-Shongwe, a cancer survivor and founder of BreastSens, a nonprofit breast health and health care rights initiative in South Africa.

On the final day of the Livestrong Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland, the American Cancer Society hosted a lively panel discussion on the stigma of cancer in different countries around the world. Greg Donaldson, national vice president of Corporate Communications for the American Cancer Society, served as the moderator for the event, providing context and perspective on the topic and guiding the conversation among the panelists. The five distinguished guests on the panel included Dr. Xishan Hao, president of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association; Dr. M. R. Rajagopal, founder and chairman of Pallium India; Dr. Alejandro Mohar, director of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico; Rick Lyke, cancer survivor and founder of Pints for Prostates, a nonprofit based in the United States; and Molebatsi Pooe-Shongwe, a cancer survivor and founder of BreastSens, a nonprofit breast health and health care rights initiative in South Africa. The panelists provided insights on some of the cultural, gender-based, and political reasons for the stigma associated with cancer in their countries. They also offered ideas on breaking the influence of the stigma, including empowering survivors to tell their stories and the importance of doctors, nongovernmental organizations, the media, and government institutions working more closely together to create better public awareness of cancer control methods.

Lance Armstrong Joins American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation at Release of The Tobacco Atlas, Third Edition

Release of The Tobacco Atlas at Livestrong Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland. Left to right: Dr. Judith Mackay, Atlas co-author and special advisor to World Lung Foundation; Lance Armstrong, founder and chairman of Lance Armstrong Foundation; and Dr John R. Seffrin, chief executive officer, American Cancer Society

On Tuesday morning at the Livestrong Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland, Lance Armstrong, founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, joined representatives of the American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation for a media briefing to release The Tobacco Atlas, Third Edition. The Tobacco Atlas, published by the American Cancer Society and the World Lung Foundation, provides a comprehensive and up-to-date study of tobacco use and tobacco-control efforts worldwide. In addition to remarks from Lance Armstrong, several other spoke at the event, including John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer, American Cancer Society; Hana Ross, PhD, book co-author, economist, and strategic director of international tobacco control, American Cancer Society; and Judith Mackay, MD, book co-author, special advisor at the World Lung Foundation, and senior policy advisor to the World Health Organization.

American Cancer Society Hosts Lunch to Welcome Participants and Partners at First-Ever Livestrong Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland

Terry Fontham, MPH, DrPH, president of the American Cancer Society addresses participants and partners at welcome luncheon hosted by the American Cancer Society during the Livestrong Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland

On August 23, the American Cancer Society kicked off its role as an Ambassador Sponsor of the three-day Livestrong Global Cancer Summit that begins today in Dublin, Ireland. The American Cancer Society on Sunday hosted a luncheon for more than 60 cancer and tobacco control partners worldwide, including representatives of nongovernmental organizations, international organizations, and the media. The luncheon was held to honor the many contributions of these diverse collaborators in fighting the global cancer burden. The American Cancer Society staff and volunteers gave remarks at the event, including John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer; Terry Fontham, MPH, DrPH, president; and Nathan Grey, national vice president, International Affairs. Doug Ulman, chief executive officer and president of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and John McCormack, chief executive officer of the Irish Cancer Society, also addressed the gathering. The American Cancer Society is a global collaborating partner with the Lance Armstrong Foundation. As an Ambassador Sponsor of the Global Cancer Summit, the Society will be actively participating in several events during the three-day event.  

American Cancer Society Meets with Leaders in Public Health at 3rd Stop Cervical Cancer in Africa Conference

From left to right:  Her Excellency Mrs. Tobeka Madiba-Zuma, First Lady of the Republic of South Africa; Her Excellency Princess Nchegechege of Swaziland, Princess Nikky Onyeri of Nigeria (founder and executive director of the Princess Nikky Breast Cancer Foundation, and the conference host), and Her Excellency Hon. Janet Museveni of Uganda

The American Cancer Society joined with other public health organizations at the 3rd Stop Cervical Cancer in Africa Conference, which was held July 19-21 in Cape Town, South Africa. Loyce Pace Bass, director, Regional Programs, American Cancer Society, met with public health leaders from Burkina Faso, Kenya, Malawi, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and other nations to discuss their challenges and best practices. Information was provided to participants on the millions of women in Africa living with cervical cancer and the challenge to improve access to lifesaving prevention, diagnostic, and treatment resources. There was a call for civil society, clinical, and government stakeholders present to advocate for the HPV vaccine and low-resource screening programs (i.e. VIA), as well as patient care and support. Goodwill messages were presented from a number of distinguished guests, including Tobeka Madiba-Zuma, first lady of the Republic of South Africa. During the closing ceremonies for the conference, Madiba-Zuma and other first ladies of Africa launched the new Forum of African First Ladies Against Breast & Cervical Cancer. In addition, parliamentary and ministry commitments by several African governments to national planning and civil society engagement on cervical cancer were announced.

American Cancer Society Convenes Cancer Control Leaders in South Africa and Cameroon

Panelists at South Africa cancer control strategies meeting, representing the Department of Health of South Africa, Pfizer, and the Mandela Foundation

From July 20-23, the American Cancer Society brought together 15 cancer control nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in South Africa to discuss experiences and opportunities in coordinating community-based cancer control strategies. Participants engaged in small group activities and dialogues that highlighted common challenges, best practices, and overlapping resources. During a panel discussion, speakers from private industry (Pfizer South Africa), civil society (Nelson Mandela Foundation), and government (South Africa National Department of Health) shared insights and advice regarding successful multi-sector partnerships. In their parting statements, the NGO participants praised the opportunity to share ideas and use tools offered by the American Cancer Society at the meeting. They also committed themselves to developing and acting on local, regional, or national collaboration plans with peers. Since the meeting, multiple formal and informal partnerships have been formed or explored. The American Cancer Society also convened cancer and tobacco control stakeholders in Cameroon from July 15-17 for similar discussions on current activities and priorities. The need for more accurate information and education was highlighted as a major priority. One stakeholder recounted a situation in which a newly diagnosed cancer patient was told by his physician that it would have been better if he had HIV/AIDS than cancer. The statement was a poignant reminder of both the lack of awareness of cancer information and critical resources for cancer control in the country and the overall region.

American Cancer Society Addresses Global Cancer Burden at National Medical Association Meeting

 

Panelists at the Global Health Sustainability Meeting Organized by the National Medical Association

The National Medical Association (NMA) held a meeting on global health sustainability on July 27 in Las Vegas, Nevada, in conjunction with its annual convention and scientific assembly. The meeting, attended by about 50 health care professionals, brought together a diverse panel of research, medical, and public health experts to address opportunities to advance global health access and capacity, with a key focus on Africa. Panelists included representatives from the NMA, American Cancer Society, University of Washington/Seattle Cancer Care, University of Michigan Breast Cancer Center, Catholic University of Rome, and Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. Key presentations focused on Africa’s disease burden and health care resources, African research and advocacy efforts under way, and health care training and infrastructure opportunities. The American Cancer Society was represented by Ann McMikel, strategic director, Planning and Operations, whose presentation addressed the global cancer burden. The meeting supports NMA’s recently launched global health initiative (GHI), which focuses on training, capacity building, advocacy, and clinical trials. GHI has piloted vital health activities in Ghana, a priority country of the American Cancer Society’s African programs and activities.