The Global Fight Against Cancer

International Cancer Conference in Italy Features American Cancer Society Presentations

From left to right:  Dr. Luiz Santini, Brazil's National Cancer Institute (INCA); Jon Kerner, Canadian Partnership against Cancer; Abel Limache Garcia, Peru's National Cancer Institute (INEN); Cristina Parsons Perez, American Cancer Society; Eva Maria Ruiz de Castilla, NGO Esperantra.

At the 3rd International Cancer Control Congress held November 8-11 in Como, Italy, American Cancer Society staff delivered presentations on cancer planning, employer engagement, and tobacco control in Africa. More than 400 cancer control leaders from Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Asia addressed critical issues in planning and implementing a comprehensive approach to cancer control. In addition to keynote presentations by Ala Alwan, MD, of the World Health Organization (WHO) and others, there were workshops on all aspects of cancer planning and control in low-, middle-, and high-resource settings. Cristina Parsons Perez, PhD, manager, Latin America Initiatives, American Cancer Society, served on a panel about cancer planning with the head of the Brazilian National Cancer Institute. Johanna Ralston, vice president, Global Strategies, American Cancer Society, gave two presentations at sessions organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency on tobacco and cancer control in Africa and working with employers and the public sector on public-private partnerships. The abstracts of American Cancer Society staff presentations were selected for publication in the Congress monograph in the journal Tumori, a journal about experimental and clinical oncology.

American Cancer Society and Other Global Health Leaders Address Breast Cancer in Developing World at Harvard University Conference

The American Cancer Society played key roles in organizing and participating in a major conference on breast cancer in the developing world November 3-5 at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. The aim of the conference, which was called Breast cancer in the developing world: meeting the unforeseen challenge to women, health, and equity, was to raise greater global awareness of the epidemic of breast cancer in low- and middle-income countries, where the disease is now the leading cause of cancer-related death among adult women. American Cancer Society Chief Executive Officer John Seffrin, PhD, spoke to the global health leaders attending the conference about the lessons of tobacco control and how these lessons can help the breast cancer movement. Additionally, Alessandra Durstine, vice president, Regional Strategies and director, Latin America Programs, American Cancer Society; and Robert Smith, PhD, director of Cancer Screening, American Cancer Society, discussed advocacy planning and population-based screening. Durstine also represented the American Cancer Society on the steering committee for the event. The conference brought together delegates and speakers from around the world who are working on breast cancer, including leading researchers, policy-makers, and advocates. More than 10 cancer control nongovernmental organizations from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, which are partners of the American Cancer Society, participated in the conference.

American Cancer Society Hosts Training Program for 34 Breast Cancer Groups in Brazil

Presentation during the American Cancer Society breast cancer advocacy training program in Gramado, Brazil

The American Cancer Society organized a training program in Gramado, Brazil, from October 13-15, titled Giving Voice to the Breast Cancer Movement: Foundations of Advocacy (Dando voz ao Movimento de Câncer de Mama: Fundamentos de Advocacy). The program brought together representatives of 34 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from the Brazilian breast cancer advocacy coalition FEMAMA (Federação Brasileira de Instituções Filantropicas de Apoio a Saude da Mama). This training was made possible thanks to an educational grant from Roche. The keynote speaker for the event, Ricardo Caponero, MD, president of the Brazilian Association of Palliative Care, talked about the Fundamentals of Breast Cancer. Bob Chapman, director of Operations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), gave a presentation on Working in Advocacy Coalitions, together with Anna Monteiro, director of communications, Brazilian Tobacco Control Alliance (ACT). Cristina Camara, a consultant for the American Cancer Society in Brazil, gave a lecture on Decision Making Processes of the Brazilian Public Health System and trained participants on Political Mapping. Other key speakers included Cristina Parsons-Perez, manager of Latin American Programs, American Cancer Society; Gustavo Azenha, program manager, Brazil Programs, American Cancer Society; Adriana Bacci, a consultant for the American Cancer Society in Brazil; Maira Caleffi, MD, president of FEMAMA; and Regina Vargas, a representative of FEMAMA. During the program, the American Cancer Society also announced an ambitious grant program to support breast cancer advocacy and information efforts by NGOs with FEMAMA. The event was followed by the American Cancer Society-sponsored 8th Annual meeting of Breast Health Philanthropic Organizations (VIII Encontro de Entidades Filantrópicas e Grupos de Apoio pela Saúde da Mama), where key breast cancer advocacy goals and actions for the upcoming year in Brazil were defined.Coinciding with this training program was the Brazilian Mastology Society’s 1st Brazilian Women’s Health Forum, which included a breast cancer march culminating in the presentation of the “Letter of Gramado” to the director of the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA). This letter – the product of a series of participatory meetings on breast cancer planning – delineates a series of recommendations to improve breast health in Brazil.
 

American Cancer Society Actively Participates in First Full Day of AORTIC Conference

 
Otis Brawley, MD, chief medical officer, American Cancer Society (second row, standing in center), with other distinguished guests at AORTIC Conference 2009, including His Excellency Jakaya Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania (seated first row, second from right).

On Thursday, November 12, the first full day of the American Cancer Society-supported AORTIC Conference 2009 got off to a great start. The conference has attracted record attendance, with more than 700 global government and health leaders convening to discuss cancer and tobacco control in Africa. American Cancer Society staff and volunteers delivered presentations at key plenary sessions and workshops on tobacco control, advocacy, and cancer planning, including Van Wolf, chair, National Board of Directors; Thomas Glynn, PhD, director, Cancer Science and Trends and director, International Cancer Control; Ann McMikel, strategic director, International Affairs; and Loyce Pace, director, Regional Programs, International Affairs. Following the morning sessions, Tanzania’s president, Jakaya Kikwete, officially welcomed the conference delegates and pledged his commitment to making cancer a priority in the region. In the evening, the American Cancer Society delegation hosted a dinner for Society partners attending the conference.

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 To Host Pre-Conference Workshops at AORTIC Conference 2009 in Tanzania; New ACS Blog Set Up for Tanzania Activities

 

 
  
The American Cancer Society is participating in AORTIC Conference 2009, being held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from November 11-14. The African Organisation for Research & Training in Cancer (AORTIC) has organized this conference for cancer control advocates from around the world to address the African cancer burden.

In addition to its participation in the conference, the American Cancer Society will be hosting two pre-conference workshops in Dar es Salaam. One is an training event organized for representatives of African nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as part of the American Cancer Society Africa Cancer Information (ACI) program. The ACI event, taking place from Nov. 8-11, will allow these NGOs to learn about NGO management practices and cancer control activities. The other event is an ACS Media Summit for journalists representing print, radio, and TV media organizations thoughout Africa. Journalists will learn about best practices in health reporting, especially as they relate to creating greater awareness of cancer and tobacco control in the public. This Media Summit, taking place from Nov. 9-11, has been made possible with the generous support of Oracle, the Canadian Cancer Society, and AORTIC.

The American Cancer Society has set up a new blog at http://cancer.blogs.com/acsaortic to post materials and updates related to both pre-conference workshops and the AORTIC Conference. Materials include press releases, speaker biographies, fact sheets, and more. You can use the links in "Catgories" in the left column of the blog to find materials related to each subject. Also, check the "Quick Links" and "Twitter Updates" section in the right column to find useful information and resources on cancer and tobacco control in Africa and around the world.

American Cancer Society Joins Experts to Discuss Public Engagement at the Global Leadership Forum for Cancer Control

GoPublic Forum, from left to right: Steve Hildebrand, (deputy campaign manager, Barack Obama campaign), Tom Kean, (executive director, c-change), Cristina Parsons Perez, (manager, Latin America Cancer Initiatives, American Cancer Society), Jeff Rushton (founder, Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation), Pat Kelly (chief executive officer, C2CC).

The Global Leadership Forum for Cancer Control (GoPublic) took place September 23-26 in Ottawa, Canada. The event, presented by the Canadian Campaign to Control Cancer (C2CC), focused on public engagement in cancer control and best practices in the field. Cristina Parsons Perez, PhD, manager, Latin America Cancer Initiatives, American Cancer Society, together with Jeff Rushton of Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation co-chaired the steering committee for the forum. Johanna Ralston, vice president, Global Strategies and managing director, International Affairs, American Cancer Society, delivered a presentation on the Society’s global workplace initiative work and led a workshop on the subject. Parsons Perez also gave a presentation on the Society’s international work as part of the forum’s opening plenary. The GoPublic forum included high-profile speakers including: Elizabeth Edwards, cancer survivor and health advocate; Stephen Lewis, former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa; and Steve Hildebrand, who was deputy campaign manager for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential  campaign). Suzanne Steffens of Duke University reported on the Community Conversations that preceded the GoPublic forum, which was an effort to engage people around the world in an online dialogue about global cancer control. The American Cancer Society contributed to Community Conversations by hosting its own conversation via its American Cancer Society Global Facebook page and its Global Fight Against Cancer blog (see March 2, 2009, blog entry).

American Cancer Society Partner in Brazil Mounts Successful Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

The statue of the internationally recognized landmark Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor), the internationally recognized landmark that overlooks Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is lit pink as part of the FEMAMA breast cancer awareness and advocacy campaign.

The American Cancer Society’s key collaborator in Brazil, the Brazilian breast cancer coalition FEMAMA (Federação Brasileira de Instituções Filantropicas de Apoio a Saude da Mama), has mounted a highly visible and successful breast cancer awareness and advocacy campaign for “Pink October.” As part of the campaign, important monuments throughout the country are lighted in pink as a vivid reminder of the impact breast cancer has on women in Brazil. Bob Chapman, director of Operations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), attended a reception for the highlight of this campaign: the lighting of the statue of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor), the internationally recognized landmark atop a mountain peak overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. As an icon of both the city of Rio de Janeiro and the country as a whole, the statue’s lighting gives unprecedented attention to the cause and the lifesaving work of breast cancer nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Brazil. While in Brazil, Chapman also helped conduct a series of advocacy trainings for member NGOs of FEMAMA. Through its breast cancer awareness campaign, FEMAMA is encouraging the public to improve breast health practices. Cancer control advocates in Brazil are celebrating the recent creation of a new law that mandates breast cancer screening for all women over 40 through the national public health care system.

American Cancer Society Sponsors, Holds Workshop at 2009 US-Africa Business Summit

 
Participants in the American Cancer Society panel discussion on cancer and other noncommunicable diseases.  From left to right:  Haskell Ward, SEACOMM; Tom Glynn, PhD, American Cancer Society; Lisa A. Newman, MD, MPH, FACS, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center; Mo Mayrides, PhRMA International Development Alliance; Michelle DeMoor, Philips Health Care. (Not pictured: Funmi Olopade, MD, FACP, University of Chicago)

 
United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton addresses the summit participants.

The American Cancer Society is proud to have sponsored a panel discussion at the 2009 US-Africa Business Summit, which was held September 29-October 1 in Washington, D.C. This biennial event, which was organized by the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), brought together more than 1,500 leaders from the public and private sectors to explore business and investment opportunities in Africa. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered a speech at the summit in which she underscored the Obama administration’s commitment to Africa and its vision of the region representing the global economic engine of the 21st century. On development issues including health, she emphasized long-term solutions, metrics, and integration with diplomatic efforts. The American Cancer Society hosted one of several health-related workshops at the summit. The workshop, titled The Changing Health Landscape in Africa and the Private Sector Response: Non-Communicable Diseases, Cancer and Chronic Conditions, brought together a panel of five leading global health experts from the public and private sectors. It was moderated by Thomas Glynn, PhD, director, Cancer Science and Trends and director, International Cancer Control, American Cancer Society. The panel of experts included Michelle DeMoor, senior director, International Policy and Government Relations, Philips Health Care; Lisa A. Newman, MD, MPH, FACS, director, Breast Care Center, and professor of surgery, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center; Mo Mayrides, director, PhRMA International Alliance Development; Funmi Olopade, MD, FACP, Walter L. Palmer distinguished service professor of Medicine and Human Genetics, University of Chicago; and Haskell Ward, senior vice president, Government Relations, SEACOM. They discussed Africa’s changing disease profile and the unique role the private sector can play in controlling the rising burden of cancer and other noncommunicable diseases on the continent.

American Cancer Society to Join African and Mediterranean NGOs at Cancer Conference in Paris in October

The French National League against Cancer, founder of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and founding member of the Cancer Network for International Cooperation (RCCI), is launching a new effort to enable African and Mediterranean cancer nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to exchange ideas and create a supportive network. This collaboration will provide better support for patients and their caregivers, and foster cooperation among health professionals and institutions in the region.The French National League against Cancer will hold, at its Paris headquarters on October 9-10, the first meeting of the Francophone African & Mediterranean Leagues in the Fight Against Cancer, which will be attended by NGOs and experts invested in this cause in the region. For more information about the upcoming event, click on this link to view the conference Web site (all information available only in French; English version to be added soon): liguesafromed.com. Sylvana Rochet-Belleri, North Africa program manager, American Cancer Society, will attend the conference to meet with partners and stakeholders.