The Global Fight Against Cancer

The American Cancer Society Collaborates with Key U.N. Agencies and Global Health Leaders to Advance Women's Health Worldwide

New York City — The American Cancer Society Global Health Programs led the first-ever side event at the United Nations (U.N.) on April 13 to address women’s cancers and NCDs (non-communicable diseases). Participants encouraged U.N. policy makers to prioritize women's cancers at the High-level U.N. Meeting on NCDs in September 2011. NCDs – cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory disease - represent a global health, economic, and development issue. Their impact on women deepens health and gender inequities between and within countries and have a profound effect on individuals, households, and communities. Women worldwide are affected by, and at risk for, mortality from cancers that are largely preventable and treatable, including cervical and breast cancer.

 Madam Callista Mutharika, First Lady of the Republic of Malawi, Incoming Vice Chairperson, Forum of African First Ladies against Breast and Cervical Cancer 

 Dr. Karen Sealey, PAHO/WHO Special Advisor served as moderator. (center)

 Ms. Clover Allen Wilson, Breast Cancer Survivor received a standing ovation.

More than 200 people attended, including civil society, healthcare professionals, academics and representatives from more than 30 U.N. Missions. 

The meeting marked the release of "Progress in Cervical Cancer Prevention: The CCA Report Card. Cervical Cancer Action." This new report by Cervical Cancer Action, assesses global readiness to fight cervical cancer using new approaches and new technologies, especially in regions where the disease is a common killer. It underscores the urgent need for the global community to prioritize cervical cancer prevention and control on global health and development agendas.

The American Cancer Society collaborated with the Permanent Mission of the Member States of the Caribbean Community, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malawi, the U.N. Population Fund, PATH and the African Forum of First Ladies against Breast and Cervical Cancer.

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CERVICAL CANCER: GLOBAL FACTS TO FILE

• Cervical cancer is central to the emerging cancer pandemic in low- and middle-income countries. 

• The number of lives lost to this preventable disease is a global failure of the largest scale given all we know about preventing, detecting, and treating cervical cancer. 

• Cervical cancer was the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide, and the leading cause of cancer death in Africa and Southeast Asia in 2008. That year, cervical cancer caused an estimated 275,100 deaths.

• Ninety percent of these deaths occurred in developing parts of the world, where access to screening and treatment are often non-existent and adolescent girls are not receiving vaccination for the human papilloma virus (HPV), the primary risk factor for cervical cancer. 

• The HPV vaccine can prevent up to 70 percent of cervical cancer cases, and cost-effective procedures are available to detect and treat cervical pre-cancer.

To redress the rise in cervical cancer, the Society has spearheaded programs in India, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. The ACS aims to promote public awareness about cervical cancer, educate health professionals, and improve access to screening. Throughout the year, the Society collaborates with PATH and the Cervical Cancer Action Coalition with a shared goal of preventing cancer globally.

BREAST CANCER: GLOBAL FACTS TO FILE

• Breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer death for women worldwide in 2008. That year, 458,400 breast cancer deaths were recorded despite the disease being largely treatable through early detection. 

• There were an estimated 1.4 million new breast cancer cases in 2008. 

• Breast cancer mortality over the past 25 years has decreased in some North American and European countries due to early detection through mammography and improved treatment; in contrast, mortality rates are climbing in many developing countries given a lack of access to affordable treatment and early detection. Source: Global Cancer Facts & Figures, 2nd edition

One of the ways the American Cancer Society supports women is by developing advocacy and capacity-building in low- and middle-income countries. Latin America is a case in point. Across the region, the Society has partnered with 70 organizations working in breast cancer control. Additionally, the Society launched a Pan-American cancer network and co- founded a regional breast cancer advocacy coalition. In Brazil and Mexico, ACS pioneered a patient navigator program offering valuable information about breast care and treatment.

 

The American Cancer Society Joins African Ministers of Health in Global Effort to Fight Non-communicable Diseases

Brazzaville, Congo — In an effort to address the growing global burden of cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the American Cancer Society is joining technical experts and Ministers of Health in Africa for a meeting in Brazzaville, Congo this week. The gathering marks the first African regional consultation on NCDs under the World Health Organization (WHO) to discuss Africa's response to the growing burden of NCDs including cancer, diabetes, respiratory disease, and heart diseases. According to the WHO, NCDs claim more than 35 million lives each year and account for roughly 60 percent of all deaths worldwide, with a disproportionate number of fatalities occurring in developing countries. 

The Brazzaville consultation will yield a regional NCD declaration to contribute to proceedings of the First Global Ministerial Meeting on Healthy Lifestyle and NCDs control scheduled for 28-29 April in Moscow, and the UN High-level Meeting on NCDs in New York City from 19-20 September 2011. At the New York summit, the UN will address cancer and other chronic diseases for the first time as part of a larger policy that recognizes the global NCD burden and outlines a clear plan of action for governments, the UN system, civil society, and development stakeholders. 

 

 

Conference of the Parties of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control meet for their fourth session in Punta del Este, Uruguay

The fourth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is under way this week in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

The COP, which is comprised of the countries that have ratified the World Health Organization’s global tobacco treaty and acts as the governing body for the treaty, meets bi-annually and strives for the effective implementation of the treaty. The American Cancer Society has been a key participant in, and supporter of, the FCTC process since it began in 1999.

Throughout the COP, a wide range of issues of vital importance to tobacco control are being discussed. These include the development of consistent and effective tobacco tax policies, the regulation of tobacco products, the development of global guidelines for the treatment of tobacco dependence, and the consideration of a formal process for the monitoring and evaluation of the FCTC, among others. Another important issue being addressed is the global control of tobacco smuggling, which constitutes a particular threat for population health by increasing the affordability of tobacco and therefore encouraging higher tobacco use.

Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the WHO, addressing the COP during from Geneva.

The weeklong event opened on Monday with an address by Uruguayan President José Mujica, who thanked the delegates for their support of Uruguay’s fight against the multinational tobacco industry in its efforts to remain a leader in tobacco control in Latin America. Mujica also said he plans to continue the strong tobacco control policies established by his predecessor, Dr. Tabaré Vázquez, who also spoke on Monday. In addition, Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the WHO, addressed the COP from Geneva. She highlighted the unprecedented progress in global tobacco control since the adoption of the FCTC, but warned against the unprecedented attacks by the tobacco industry as it seeks to maintain its profits worldwide.

On November 17, Articles 9 and 10 of the treaty, which deal with the crucial issue of tobacco product regulation, were the subject of comments, questions, and debates, given their particular relevance to address the strategies used by the tobacco industry to increase the “attractiveness” of cigarettes to youth, notably cigarette flavoring.Today’s discussions are focusing on the following FCTC provisions: Article 12, (on the provision of evidence-based tobacco information to the public; Article 14 (tobacco dependence treatment); and Articles 17 and 18 (tobacco crop substitution and agricultural issues, respectively).

This COP comes at a crucial time because it is the last meeting of this group before the high-level meeting on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in September at the United Nations. The decisions reached in Punta del Este will have a direct effect on the conduct and outcome of the U.N. summit and subsequent approaches to the control of NCDs worldwide, given the central role of tobacco as a root cause of the major NCDs, including heart and lung disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Representatives from the American Cancer Society’s Global Tobacco Control programs are in Punta del Este this week and are reporting on the main events on Twitter .

American Cancer Society Holds Media Training in Vietnam, Focused on Bans on Tobacco Advertisements and Sponsorship

 
Some of the participants in the September 21 media training in Vietnam

 

On September 21, leading journalists from the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam participated in the third American Cancer Society advanced training for the Vietnamese media. This event was sponsored, in part, by Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. Tobacco control experts from the Ho Chi Minh Health Services Department and VINACOSH, a Vietnamese tobacco control nongovernmental organization, spoke about the difficulties of implementing the bans on tobacco advertising and sponsorship, and the need for journalists to take a greater stance on implementing the law. Charles Smith, an attorney and board member for the California Division of the American Cancer Society, spoke about his work on implementing tobacco control laws in the United States and the important role journalists play in keeping tobacco companies accountable.

 

During the training, the journalists visited various public areas in Vietnam (i.e. restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, etc.) and interviewed people regarding their awareness of the bans on tobacco advertisements and sponsorship. These journalists were then encouraged to use this information to develop articles for publication to their press outlets.

 

ACS Vietnam Manager Tuyet Ha-Iaconis and her team have been providing hands-on training and feedback to Vietnamese journalists for over a year to help develop their skills and provide them with international opportunities to expand their knowledge base. During this fellowship, ACS selected three outstanding journalists to attend the Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health (APACT) Conference in Sydney, Australia.

 

To learn more about these journalists and their work, please visit the Vietnam Fellowship Blog site (blog is in the Vietnamese language): http://vnmediaantismoking.blogspot.com/

 

 

American Cancer Society Co-sponsors Tobacco Control Workshop at United Nations Conference in Melbourne, Australia

The 63rd United Nations Annual Department of Public Information / Non-Governmental Organizations (UN DPI/NGO) Conference was held from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, 2010, in Melbourne, Australia. The theme of the conference was “Advance Global Health: Achieve the MDGs” (MDGs are the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals). The meeting was a great success, with over 350 NGOs and 1600 individuals attending. The NCD Alliance supported five workshops during this conference, one of which, Overcoming Barriers to Achieving the MDGs: Tackling Tobacco Use and Non-Communicable Diseases, was sponsored by the World Lung Foundation, and cosponsored by the American Cancer Society, The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Union for International Cancer Control, World Heart Federation, and Framework Convention Alliance. During this workshop, Rachel Kitonyo, Chair of the Africa Tobacco Control Alliance, made a presentation on the issue of tobacco control in Africa. Sir George Alleyne, distinguished scholar and currently serving as the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean, delivered a wonderful speech during the closing ceremony, emphasizing the need to address the growing burden of NCDs (http://www.viostream.com/un/). 

 

NCDs, including cancer, are now included in the final declaration from the conference that was presented to the UN Secretary General. This declaration states that “Millions of people die prematurely of non communicable diseases, as well as TB, malaria and complications of AIDS every year" and also calls the international community “to ensure governments respect and implement existing international covenants and agreements that will make major improvements to health such as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control”.  Kiyo Akasaka, UN Under-Secretary-General, received the declaration and mentioned that it would be useful in informing the debate at the MDGs Summit taking place on September 20 in New York. The Melbourne UN DPI/NGO Conference helped provide more momentum for the NCD advocacy movement, as we gear up for the High Level UN Meeting on the prevention and control of NCDs next year.

American Cancer Society in China Prior to the UICC Conference: Hosting Advocacy Workshop, Participating in Global Health Partnerships Program

American Cancer Society Chief Operating Officer Greg Bontrager (center) speaks with workshop participants in Hong Kong.

 

Prior to the start of the UICC World Cancer Congress 2010 in Shenzhen, China, the American Cancer Society hosted the final workshop as part of its Asia Regional Cancer Control Program in Hong Kong from August 12-15. More than 30 representatives from the program’s ten grantee organizations attended the event, which focused on cancer control advocacy principles and practices. The workshop featured regional guest speakers such as Jack Sim, a global activist for water and sanitation facilities in low-resource settings, Ken Hanioka and Ryoji Noritake of Health Policy Institute Japan, Ratih Hardjono, a prominent advocacy and communications expert based in Indonesia, and representatives of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society. American Cancer Society Immediate Past President Elizabeth “Terry” Fontham, MPH, DrPH, presented a module on advocacy collaborations. American Cancer Society Chief Operating Officer Greg Bontrager facilitated an executive roundtable to discuss advocacy as it relates to program sustainability as well as future engagement of the Society with regional stakeholders. Grantees developed national advocacy workplans as part of the workshop and identified areas of regional overlap. Attendees also offered input on the Society’s global advocacy strategy and ideas for mobilizing grassroots partners throughout Southeast Asia in a noncommunicable disease campaign. The workshop was funded through a grant to the American Cancer Society by the Pfizer Foundation and was attended by Pfizer Asia representatives. The grant-funded program will continue through December 2010.

  

In addition, American Cancer Society staff participated in a workshop for Global Health Partnerships initiative grantees in Shenzhen, China, in advance of the UICC World Cancer Congress 2010. The workshop convened cancer and tobacco control organizations from around the world to discuss program sustainability. The American Cancer Society manages three projects funded by the initiative: the Asia Regional Cancer Control Program, the Latin America Regional Health Grants Program, and the Smokefree at Work (Travaillons Sans Fumee) program in North Africa. Collectively, these programs have directly engaged a total of 32 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and nearly 150,000 stakeholders (including screened individuals, companies, policymakers, youth, and volunteers), and reached millions through informational materials, media, and research. American Cancer Society staff Johanna Ralston, vice president, Global Strategies, and Alessandra Durstine, vice president, Regional Programs, presented at the workshop on strategic fundraising and grassroots advocacy for noncommunicable disease. In addition, eight Asia program grantees were supported through the American Cancer Society’s grant to attend the workshop and UICC conference. The Global Health Partnerships initiative is funded by Pfizer Foundation and Pfizer, Inc. The American Cancer Society has been a grantee since 2007 and the Society’s grant-funded programs will continue through 2010 and early 2011.

 

Day Four at the UICC Conference: Community Mobilization, Cervical Cancer Prevention, Conference Closing Ceremony

John Seffrin, PhD, national chief executive officer, American Cancer Society (right), and Doug Ulman, president and chief executive officer, LIVESTRONG (left), deliver a report on the World Cancer Leaders' Summit, held earlier in the week at the UICC World Cancer Congress 2010, at the closing ceremony of the conference on Day Four.

 

The American Cancer Society participated in more conference sessions during the fourth and final day of the UICC World Cancer Congress 2010. The following are highlights of those activities.

  

  

A morning session titled “Actions for System Change: Community Mobilization Strategies for the 21^st Century” featured a dialogue with John Seffrin, PhD, national chief executive officer, American Cancer Society, and Doug Ulman, president and chief executive officer, LIVESTRONG^®. Dr. Seffrin and Mr. Ulman shared their views on programs and methods that are most effective in mobilizing communities to take action on cancer control. Dr. Seffrin cited the American Cancer Society Relay For Life^® as a prime example of a program that empowers people in the United States and around the world to raise greater awareness about cancer issues and raise funding to fight back against cancer. Dr. Seffrin also highlighted the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network^SM (ACS CAN), a sister organization of the American Cancer Society, as a model organization that effectively advocates on cancer issues and influences policymakers in the United States to create laws that address the needs of those affected by cancer and promote cancer prevention and early detection. Mr. Ulman remarked on the importance of collaboration among global cancer control organizations and the use of social media in creating greater awareness around the world about cancer issues and what cancer control organizations are doing to combat the growing global burden of cancer. Both of them agreed that next year’s United Nations special summit on noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, will be essential for positive public policy change on the global burden of cancer.

  

  

The American Cancer Society participated in another conference session addressing cervical cancer prevention. American Cancer Society Immediate Past President Elizabeth “Terry” Fontham, MPH, DrPH, and Johanna Ralston, vice president, Global Strategies, American Cancer Society, were among the speakers for this session. Dr. Fontham spoke about the need for cervical cancer prevention worldwide, and mentioned some specific needs for prevention methods in Africa. Dr. Fontham presented case studies on cervical cancer prevention work in Guatemala and Nicaragua as best practices for prevention of the disease. This conference session was co-chaired by South Africa First Lady Madame Madiba-Zuma, a strong advocate for addressing women’s cancer issues in South Africa and across the continent. Madame Zuma talked about the challenges of cervical cancer control in her country and her role as the current chair of the Forum of African First Ladies Against Breast & Cervical Cancer, launched last year in South Africa by Madame Zuma and several fellow African first ladies to promote greater awareness of breast and cervical cancer issues throughout Africa.

  

  

In other conference sessions during the day, American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer Otis Brawley, MD, gave a presentation in a conference session on “Balancing Public Messages on Screening: Risks, Benefits, and Guidelines.” Rijo M. John, PhD, director, international tobacco control research, American Cancer Society, led a conference session focusing on the findings from a major report released earlier this week by the American Cancer Society and LIVESTRONG, “The Global Economic Cost of Cancer.” Dr. John served as a co-author on the report along with Hana Ross, PhD, strategic director, international tobacco control research, American Cancer Society.

  

  

In the late afternoon, many conference participants gathered for the closing ceremony for the UICC World Cancer Congress. One of the main presentations of this closing ceremony was a report on the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit delivered by Dr. John Seffrin and Doug Ulman, who discussed the outcomes from the Summit held on the second day of the conference. UICC representatives announced that their organization will be changing its official name in English to the “Union for International Cancer Control” (until now, the name has been the “International Union Against Cancer”). UICC representatives also announced that there were more than 3,200 participants at this year’s conference, and that they looked forward to seeing these participants again at the next UICC World Cancer Congress, to be held two years from now in Montreal, Canada.

  

Overall, this year’s UICC World Cancer Congress was a successful event. American Cancer Society staff and volunteer leadership played influential roles in many conference sessions. In addition, the American Cancer Society hosted 20 Africa and Asia grantees at the conference as part of a strategic to leverage on-the-ground expertise to align with the Society’s global goals to elevate global cancer and tobacco control on the world’s health agenda. Participation in the conference helped these partners by granting them access to international peers, emerging evidence, and information on global campaigns.

UICC Conference, Day Three: ACS-Sponsored Session on Tobacco Control in Sub-Saharan Africa, Other Conference Sessions and Activities

George W.P. Atkins, chair, National Board of Directors, American Cancer Society, moderates a panel discussion during an ACS-sponsored conference session on tobacco control in sub-Saharan Africa.

 

The American Cancer Society sponsored and participated in several high-profile sessions and meetings during the third day of the UICC World Cancer Congress 2010. The following are highlights of those activities.

 

The American Cancer Society sponsored a session for conference participants at the UICC World Cancer Congress addressing “The Last Opportunity to Prevent a Tobacco Epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa.” The session gave an overview of the growing tobacco burden on sub-Saharan Africa and the efforts of the American Cancer Society and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to combat this growing epidemic through global cancer advocacy and educating the media. The panel discussion at the session was moderated by American Cancer Society volunteer George W.P. Atkins, chair, National Board of Directors, American Cancer Society. Speakers on the panel included Nathan Grey, MPH, national vice president, Global Health, American Cancer Society; Dr. Judith Mackay, senior advisor, World Lung Foundation; Patricia Lambert, director, International Legal Consortium, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; and Anso Thom, print editor, Health-e news service in South Africa. Mr. Grey spoke about the American Cancer Society’s new global strategy on cancer advocacy and tobacco control. A large part of this new strategy includes the new African Tobacco Control Consortium, a global coalition of public health-oriented organizations led and coordinated by the American Cancer Society and funded with a $7 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which uses evidence-based approaches to stem the growing tobacco epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. The other panelists spoke about the negative impacts of tobacco use and tobacco industry practices on the continent, and how the media can help inform the public and influence policymakers on tobacco control laws.

 

American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer Otis Brawley, MD, spoke at two conference sessions, “Seeking Civil Society Involvement in Global Policy – The WHO and UICC Partnership-Tobacco Control Programmes” and “Latest Developments in GYN Cancer: Cervix, Endometrial, and Ovarian.” In a conference session on “Dispelling Global Cancer Myths Through Engaging Journalists,” American Cancer Society staff Alessandra Durstine, vice president, Regional Programs, and Cristina Parsons Perez, PhD, program manager, Latin America Programs, gave presentations on best practices for cancer control NGOs to leverage the power of the media to foster an open and evidence-based dialogue around cancer. Other Society staff and volunteer leadership participated in sessions that examined smoke-free settings and strategic approaches to public-private branding of cancer organizations.

 

In other conference-related activities and news:

 

• John Seffrin, PhD, national chief executive officer, American Cancer Society, and Doug Ulman, chief executive officer, LIVESTRONG, met with journalists from the Reuters news organization to discuss the newly released ACS/LIVESTRONG report “The Global Economic Cost of Cancer.”

 

• Elizabeth “Terry” Fontham, MPH, DrPH, immediate past president, American Cancer Society, met with South Africa’s First Lady Madame Tobeka Zuma to discuss cervical cancer issues in South Africa.

 

• An article appeared in China Daily, the largest English language news organization in mainland China, which addressed China’s “lethal habit” of smoking and referenced the newly released American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation publication The Tobacco Atlas, Third Edition in Chinese, launched yesterday at the UICC World Cancer Congress in China. The article also included observations on tobacco use in developing countries from Dr. John Seffrin.

 

UICC Conference, Day Two: World Cancer Leaders’ Summit, ‘Tobacco Atlas’ Press Conference, ACS/LIVESTRONG Joint Dinner

Dr. John Seffrin, chief executive officer, American Cancer Society, addresses participants at the World Cancer Leaders' Summit at the UICC World Cancer Congress 2010 in China. See more photos of ACS activities at the conference below the article.

  

  

The American Cancer Society co-hosted and participated in several high-profile events during the second day of the UICC World Cancer Congress 2010. The following are highlights of those activities.

  

The American Cancer Society co-sponsored the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit, a major gathering of cancer control leaders from around the world representing health, government, nongovernmental organization (NGO), and corporate sectors. Other sponsors for the Summit included the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), LIVESTRONG^® (Lance Armstrong Foundation), the World Economic Forum, and the World Health Organization (WHO). John Seffrin, PhD, national chief executive officer, American Cancer Society, and a former president of the UICC, joined other internationally recognized cancer control experts in discussing progress in the global fight against cancer and contributions to a long-term plan supporting the implementation of the World Cancer Declaration. The World Cancer Declaration is a global call to action by policymakers describing 11 targets that, if achieved, will help reverse the cancer epidemic. Following the Summit, Dr. Seffrin and other leaders took questions from journalists at a press briefing.

  

The American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation (WLF) launched the Chinese language version of The Tobacco Atlas, Third Edition, at a standing-room only press conference at the UICC World Cancer Congress. The book, co-published by the American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation, presents the latest data on global tobacco use and tobacco control, displaying much of the data in full color maps and charts. About 40 journalists covered the event, asking many questions of the speakers. Those speakers included Dr. John Seffrin; Dr. Judith Mackay, Tobacco Atlas co-author, senior advisor to WLF, and senior policy advisor to the WHO; Peter Baldini, chief executive officer, World Lung Foundation; Professor Gong-Huan Yang, deputy director of the China Center for Disease Control (China CDC); and Cary Adams, chief executive officer, UICC. Dr. Seffrin stressed the importance of The Tobacco Atlas as a valuable resource for tobacco control advocates and policymakers worldwide. He also noted that the data from The Tobacco Atlas will be critical for policymakers in China as they address the growing tobacco burden in their country. Dr. Mackay echoed Dr. Seffrin’s assessment of the book, emphasizing that important information on tobacco use and control can be found on every page. Dr. Mackay, who is based in Hong Kong, also made several observations about the harmful effects of tobacco use on China’s economy and public health. For more information about The Tobacco Atlas, please visit http://tobaccoatlas.org

  

In the evening, the American Cancer Society and LIVESTRONG co-hosted a dinner for UICC conference participants. The dinner, titled “The Cost of Cancer,” featured speakers who addressed the economic costs wrought by cancer worldwide. Those speakers included Dr. John Seffrin; Doug Ulman, president and chief executive officer, LIVESTRONG; Dr. Serigne Gueye, president, African Organisation for Research & Training in Cancer (AORTIC); and Her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired of Jordan. Dr. Seffrin’s remarks focused on the new report ‘The Global Economic Cost of Cancer,’ released earlier this week by the American Cancer Society and LIVESTRONG. Dr. Seffrin described some stunning findings from the report which demonstrate how cancer has become the world’s top “economic killer” in addition to its being the leading cause of death worldwide.

Speakers at the press conference for the launch of the Chinese version of The Tobacco Atlas, Third Edition. From left to right: Dr. John Seffrin, national chief executive officer; American Cancer Society; Professor Gong-Huan Yang, deputy director, China CDC; Dr. Judith Mackay, Tobacco Atlas co-author, senior advisor to WLF, and senior policy advisor to the WHO; Peter Baldini, chief executive officer, WLF; Cary Adams, president, UICC.

 
Dr. Judith Mackay showing a section of The Tobacco Atlas during the press conference.

 

 
Some of the 40 journalists and other guests who attended the press conference.

 

Dr. John Seffrin speaking at the ACS/LIVESTRONG joint dinner.

  

Doug Ulman, president and chief executive officer, LIVESTRONG, at the Society/LIVESTRONG joint dinner. 
  

 

American Cancer Society at the UICC Conference, Day One: Opening Ceremony, Award for ACS’s John Stevens, and ‘Tobacco Atlas’ Press Briefing

 
Dr. Xishan Hao addresses conference participants at the opening ceremony of the UICC World Cancer Congress 2010.  See more photos from Day One of the conference below the article.

 

This evening in Shenzhen, China, American Cancer Society staff and volunteer leadership joined the global cancer control community, government leaders, civil society, and journalists for the opening of the UICC World Cancer Congress 2010, led by Dr. Xishan Hao, president of UICC World Cancer Congress 2010 and president of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association. Distinguished speakers at the opening ceremony included Dr. Chen Zhu, Health Minister for China, who addressed cancer issues facing China and the importance of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) World Cancer Congress.

 

During the UICC General Assembly meeting earlier today, the UICC awarded the American Cancer Society’s John Stevens, MD, former vice president, Research, the UICC Award for Outstanding Volunteer in recognition of his 20-year stewardship of the Society's International Fellowship for Beginning Investigators program. John Seffrin, PhD, national chief executive officer, American Cancer Society accepted the prestigious award on behalf of Dr. Stevens. About 2,900 attendees and 200 journalists are attending this conference, which takes place every two years. The Society will host and participate in many activities throughout the conference and staff will deliver presentations each day.

 

Also earlier today, Dr. Seffrin joined Tobacco Atlas co-author Dr. Judith Mackay and World Lung Foundation Chief Executive Officer Peter Baldini for a press briefing on the upcoming release of the Chinese version of The Tobacco Atlas, Third Edition, published by the American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation. A press conference, jointly hosted by the American Cancer Society and the World Lung Foundation, will be held at the UICC World Cancer Congress at 12:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, August 19. This global Tobacco Atlas, released in Spanish in Mexico City earlier this year and in English last year, is a valuable and user-friendly resource for tobacco control advocates, governments, health care officials, and the media. Chinese media outlets, including Health News, Health Care News, News Express, and China Daily, conducted a group interview to ask questions about the Tobacco Atlas, China’s tobacco burden, and a recent report launched by the China CDC on tobacco usage trends in China.

Slide from UICC award ceremony showing Dr. John Stevens and the award he has received from the UICC.

 

Dr. John Seffrin accepting the UICC award on behalf of Dr. John Stevens.

 

American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation staff and advisors at a press briefing for Chinese journalists on The Tobacco Atlas, Third Edition, in Chinese.

Dr. John Seffrin makes a point during the Tobacco Atlas press briefing.

Some of the Chinese journalists who took part in the Tobacco Atlas press briefing.