The Global Fight Against Cancer

Media and NGOs Dialogue at American Cancer Society Workshops in Tanzania; ACS Chief Medical Officer Joins Key Global Health Leaders to Open AORTIC Conference

The American Cancer Society’s pre-conference workshops in Tanzania concluded earlier today with a lively discussion between African journalists and nongovernmental organization (NGO) representatives on barriers to cancer coverage and potential solutions in Africa. In the course of the discussion, the 24 journalists and 34 NGO representatives identified particular cancer myths that contribute to the barriers in cancer awareness in Africa. They also proposed solutions to debunking these myths, including strengthening relationships between journalists and NGOs so that journalists have access to credible and accurate information, and humanizing stories on cancer and destigmatizing the disease by profiling survivors. The discussion was followed by a graduation lunch for all workshop participants, where they were joined by Jean-Baptiste Tapko, MD, the World Health Organization’s country representative for Tanzania. The pre-conference workshops have been generously supported by Oracle, the Canadian Cancer Society, and AORTIC.

Later in the day, American Cancer Society staff and volunteers joined with hundreds of cancer and tobacco control partners from around the world at the opening ceremony of AORTIC Conference 2009. The conference, which runs through November 14, will give participants the opportunity to share ideas and best practices on all aspects of cancer care and management in Africa, from prevention and diagnoses to treatment and palliation. American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer Otis Brawley, MD, served on a panel during the ceremony with other distinguished guests, including David Mwakyusa, MD, minister for Health and Social Welfare of Tanzania. At the conclusion of the opening ceremony, Brawley was given a special gift in recognition of the American Cancer Society’s role as a key partner in cancer control in Africa. 

American Cancer Society CEO Visits Mexico City to Highlight Expansion of Society-supported Patient Navigation Program in Mexico

John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer, American Cancer Society (seated at end of table) meets with Mexican journalists in Mexico City.

John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer, American Cancer Society, visited Mexico City October 19-21 to talk with Mexican journalists and health officials about efforts to expand a Society-supported patient navigation program in Mexico. This program, administered by the Mexican National Cancer Institute (INCan), helps cancer patients and their families by providing information and psychosocial support. Seffrin met with several Mexican health officials, including José Ángel Córdova, MD secretary of health for Mexico; Mauricio Hernández, MD, DSc, the Mexican Ministry of Health’s leading tobacco expert; and Alejandro Mohar, MD, director of INCan. Seffrin also conducted a press conference and interviews with Mexican journalists. These discussions led to coverage of the American Cancer Society in some of Mexico’s leading print, radio, and TV media organizations. 

Leading Cancer Control Experts Issue Call for the Inclusion of Cancer and Other Noncommunicable Diseases in the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals

John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer, and Nathan Grey, national vice president, International Affairs, American Cancer Society, have joined other leading global cancer control experts in a call for the inclusion of cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Their views appear in a joint editorial in the September 2009 issue of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Cancer Society. The authors describe the growing global threat of NCDs, particularly to low- and middle-income countries. Eighty percent of NCDs worldwide occur in these countries, and mortality rates there due to NCDs are rising, threatening to overwhelm health systems ill-prepared for such a growing pandemic. The MDGs are recognized by many as the world’s development and public health agenda. Placing NCDs on this agenda would help to balance growing public health disparities and reduce the economic costs and personal suffering associated with these diseases. Other co-authors of the editorial include David Hill, PhD, president, International Union Against Cancer (UICC); Werner Burkhart, deputy director general, International Atomic Energy Authority; Ian Magrath, MB, BS, FRCP, FRCPath, president, International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR); Rajendra A. Badwe, MD, MBBS, director, Tata Memorial Centre; Twalib Ngoma, MD, president, African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC); Alejandro Mohar, MD, director general, Mexican National Cancer Institute.  
 
To read the editorial in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, please click on this link.

American Cancer Society CEO Dr. John Seffrin Delivers Summit Keynote Address and Participates in Panel Moderated by CNN Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta

American Cancer Society Chief Executive Officer John R. Seffrin, PhD (right), responds to a question from CNN Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta (left).

 

American Cancer Society Chief Executive Officer John R. Seffrin, PhD, delivers Summit keynote address.

 

On August 24, the opening day of the Livestrong Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland, American Cancer Society Chief Executive Officer John R. Seffrin, PhD, participated in a panel discussion on the global impact of cancer and how it affects individuals, families, communities, and governments. The panel, moderated by CNN Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, also included Dr. Werner Burkart, deputy director general, International Atomic Energy Agency; Dr. Christopher P. Wild, director, International Agency for Research on Cancer; and Lynn Faulds Wood, president, European Cancer Patient Coalition. The evening's events at the summit included a keynote address from Dr. Seffrin during the first dinner of the conference. Dr. Seffrin's remarks focused on the impact of cancer around the globe and what it will take to stem the tide of this worldwide pandemic, calling attention to topics like access to care, cancer prevention, and empowering cancer survivors.

Watch Video Podcast of American Cancer Society CEO Interview with Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN's 'House Call'

Dr. Sanjay Gupta (center) interviews American Cancer Society CEO Dr. John Seffrin (right) on CNN program 'House Call.'

Last weekend, on the CNN program 'House Call,' Dr. Sanjay Gupta reported from Dublin, Ireland, from the first-ever LiveStrong Global Cancer Summit. He interviewed American Cancer Society CEO Dr. John Seffrin, asking Dr. Seffrin 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.”

You can view the full interview by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/PEMOh  Look for the interview starting about 10 minutes, 10 seconds into the broadcast.

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 Foundation and American Cancer Society Form International Partnership to Fight Global Cancer Burden

Last week, the American Cancer Society launched a global partnership with the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF). This partnership includes American Cancer Society support of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit to be held in Dublin, Ireland, from Aug. 24-26. The Summit brings together world leaders, nongovernmental organizations, health care advocates, and corporations to call for urgent action against the global cancer burden. The American Cancer Society will be a key participant in the Summit and has facilitated the participation of a significant number of its key grantees and partners around the world. On July 2, John R. Seffrin, PhD, national chief executive officer, American Cancer Society, participated in a global cancer event with LAF at the launch of the Tour de France. In addition to the global Summit, the American Cancer Society and LAF will collaborate on patient forums in key regions in the world. The goal of this patient empowerment initiative is to develop a comprehensive, survivor-informed national call to action in select regions to foster an international patient advocacy movement.

Click on the following link to download a copy of the press release on the partnership.

American Cancer Society Hosts the 2009 Luther L. Terry Awards on Day Four of the 14th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health (WCTOH)

(This is a first-hand account of the Luther L. Terry Awards ceremony held on the evening of Day Four of the conference, March 11, from Tom Glynn, PhD, Director, Cancer Science and Trends and Director, International Cancer Control. Photos from the ceremony can be found below.)

The 2009 Luther L. Terry Awards for excellence in tobacco control were held this evening in Mumbai, on the last full evening of the 14th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health. This is the fourth time the triennial Luther L. Terry Awards have been given by the American Cancer Society, beginning with the 11th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health in Chicago in 2000. Tonight's awards ceremony was superbly produced by the American Cancer Society's Susan Herrington, national vice president, Strategic Governance and Corporate Affairs, and Judy Shope, strategic director, Constituent Management and Planning. In addition, Catherine Jo, manager, International Tobacco Control, and Carys Horgan, program assistant, Cancer Control Sciences and International Affairs, have done a terrific job of handling the selection process.

As with the previous ceremonies, this one was conducted in front of more than one thousand conference participants and the feeling in the hall was both exciting and wistful, as past achievements were honored and future plans applauded. As in the three previous iterations of the Luther L. Terry Awards, the honorees for tonight’s 2009 awards are exceptionally accomplished and recognized worldwide for their contributions to tobacco control. They are: 
• The United States’ Stanton Arnold Glantz, PhD: Recipient of the Distinguished Career Award.
• The Ministry of Health of the Government of Uruguay: Recipient of the Award for Exemplary Leadership by a Government Ministry.
• The United States’ Ronald M. Davis, MD, and India’s K. Srinath Reddy, MD, DM, MSc, FAMS: Recipients of the Award for Outstanding Individual Leadership.
• The InterAmerican Heart Foundation: Recipient of the Outstanding Organization Award.
• K. Michael Cummings, PhD, MPH, of the United States: Recipient of the Award for Outstanding Research Contribution.
• The United States’ Dileep G. Bal, MD, MPH, MS, and Thailand’s Hatai Chitanondh, MD, FICS, FRCS (T):  Recipients of the Award for Outstanding Community Service.
 
The ceremony was opened by John Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer, American Cancer Society, and introductory remarks were made by Douglas Bettcher, MD, MPH, director of the World Health Organization’s Tobacco Free Initiative. The awards were given by Terry Fontham, MPH, DrPH, president, American Cancer Society, and Van Wolf, chair, National Board of Directors, American Cancer Society. There were very few dry eyes in the hall when Dr. Sharon Milberger accepted Dr. Ron Davis' award posthumously. Dr. Davis passed away from pancreatic cancer only three days after being told of his Luther L. Terry Award. But Dr. Milberger reminded everyone that Dr. Davis lives on through his influence on a generation of tobacco control advocates.

A highlight of the award ceremony came when Maria Julia Muñoz, MD, the Health Minister of Uruguay, accepted the Award for Exemplary Leadership by a Government Ministry and commented on the astounding progress in tobacco control – and its attendant disease and death – that has been made in her country, in Latin America, and throughout the world.

It was particularly moving to see Luther L. Terry’s family represented at the ceremony by his son Michael, Michael’s wife Joan, his grandson Luther Terry, and granddaughters Agnes Terry and Paige Kollock. Following the ceremony, a celebratory dinner was held.

 

Dr. K. Srinath Reddy from India (second from left) receiving his award from American Cancer Society leaders.

 

Maria Julia Muñoz, MD, the Health Minister of Uruguay, speaking at the Luther L. Terry Awards.

 

Representatives of the Luther L. Terry family

American Cancer Society Co-sponsors India CEO Summit at 14th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health (WCTOH)

(This is a first-hand account of the India CEO Summit on Day Two of the conference, March 9, from Tom Glynn, PhD, Director, Cancer Science and Trends and Director, International Cancer Control, American Cancer Society. A photo from the event appears below.)

India CEO Summit on Tobacco-Free Workplaces: The American Cancer Society co-sponsored this event with the Public Health Foundation of India, the World Economic Forum, and the India Association of Occupational Health. It is part of an ongoing effort to enlist companies throughout India (both India-only and international companies) to make their workplaces smoke-free and offer cessation help to their employees.

Dr. Jeff Koplan, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and now director of the Global Health Institute at Emory chaired the event. John Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society, and Dr. K.S. Reddy (a Luther Terry Awardee this year), S.P. Kamble of the World Economic Forum, S. Pingle of the Indian Association of Occupational Health, and Douglas Bettcher of the World Health Organization (WHO) each spoke, noting that India has been a leader in creating tobacco-free environments and urging corporate leaders to take this on as part of overall wellness programs. Dr. Reddy noted that tobacco-free workplaces are a symbol of good corporate governance and Dr. Seffrin noted that tobacco-free workplaces are simply good for the bottom line.

The concluding address of the Summit was by Indian Health and Family Welfare Minister (and 2006 Luther Terry Awardee) Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss. This drew a lot of press, both print and electronic, including TV. He challenged the CEOs in the room to make their company workplaces tobacco-free. He also applauded the American Cancer Society for launching Quitline in India. More than 30 CEOs and medical directors attended, and signed a pledge to make their companies tobacco-free. Afterwards, many of the CEOs spoke of their current and future efforts to make their workplaces throughout India tobacco-free.

 
Speakers at the India CEO Summit

American Cancer Society President Takes Part in National Conference on Health Issues in the Arab-American Community

Elmer Huerta, MD, MPH, president of the American Cancer Society (left) and Dr. Adnan Hammad, Director of ACCESS (right)

On November 5-7, 2008, Elmer Huerta, MD, MPH, president of the American Cancer Society, participated in the 5th National Conference on Health Issues in the Arab-American Community in Dearborn, Michigan. The American Cancer Society’s Great Lakes Division board member Dr. Adnan Hammad, who serves as director of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), organized the event, which convened more than 700 people from 15 Arab nations, 20 US states, and 50 cities around the world. Leaders from the National Cancer Institute, Michigan universities, and many governmental and nongovernmental institutions discussed the impact of tobacco and cancer on the health of Arab Americans and on Arab communities in the Middle East. Collaborations between the American Cancer Society and ACCESS have enhanced the delivery of cancer information, prevention and early detection efforts, and survivor support services to the Arab-American community.