The Global Fight Against Cancer

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. 
  

 

Follow American Cancer Society Activities at This Week’s ‘UICC World Cancer Congress 2010’ in China

American Cancer Society staff and volunteer leadership will be representing the Society at the UICC World Cancer Congress 2010 from August 18-21, in Shenzhen, China. This major global cancer conference, organized by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), is held every two years, bringing together the world’s leaders in cancer control for strategic planning and the exchange of best practices in the global fight against cancer. As a leader in the global cancer control movement, the Society collaborates with key partners worldwide to help reduce the global cancer burden and put cancer on the global health agenda.

 

The American Cancer Society will be involved in several high-profile events and activities during the UICC World Cancer Congress, including:

 

· A press conference to launch the Chinese version of the Society publication The Tobacco Atlas, Third Edition

 

· Hosting a joint dinner with LIVESTRONG^® and launching a new Society/LIVESTRONG^® report on the global economic cost of cancer

 

· A Society sponsored session on tobacco control in sub-Saharan Africa

 

· Leading and participating in a wide variety of panels and seminars on cancer and tobacco control topics

 

Check this blog during the next week for updates on Society activities at the conference. You can also follow our activities on social media, through our @ACSNews and @acsglobal Twitter accounts, and the “American Cancer Society Global” Facebook page.

 

UN member states commit to addressing the growing epidemic of noncommunicable diseases; ACS urges vote in favor of UN NCD summit in joint opinion piece on CNN.com

The United Nations General Assembly agreed today to hold a Summit on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) involving heads of state in September 2011 to address the threat posed by NCDs to low- and middle-income countries. NCDs include diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory disease and are primarily caused by the risk factors of tobacco use, unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise. American Cancer Society Chief Executive Officer John R. Seffrin, PhD, along with the CEOs of the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association, wrote an opinion piece that appeared today on CNN.com urging the United States and other governments to vote in favor of holding the summit. The summit, voted on by the General Assembly today, will highlight the serious nature of the global epidemic of NCDs, which now cause 60 percent of all global deaths and are responsible for 8 million annual premature deaths (below the age of 60) in low- and middle-income countries. The summit will recognize that preventing further escalation of the NCD epidemic requires international solidarity and cooperation, and cross-government collaboration at a national level. The summit will bring together government representatives from both overseas aid donor countries and low- and middle-income countries with public health experts from around the world. They will discuss solutions to the growing danger posed by NCDs, and agree what action needs to be taken. Ensuring that major change results from the summit will require concerted effort in the lead-up to the event in order to agree to measurable outcomes and results. This could result in millions of lives being saved and a reversal of the damaging social and economic effects of NCDs.

American Cancer Society Launches 'The Tobacco Atlas,' Third Edition, in Spanish at Press Conference in Mexico City

 
Speakers at today's press conference in Mexico City, from left to right: Michael Eriksen, co-author, The Tobacco Atlas; John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer, American Cancer Society; Dr. Guadalupe Ponciano, director, Clinic Against Tobacco and vice-president, Mexico Council Against Tobacco; Dr. Mauricio Hernandez Avila, undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Mexico; Peter Baldini, chief executive officer, World Lung Foundation

 

On April 14, the American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation hosted a press conference to launch The Tobacco Atlas, Third Edition, in Spanish, held in Mexico City, Mexico. 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. The speakers at today’s launch included the second-highest ranking health official in Mexico, representatives of the American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation, a Tobacco Atlas co-author, and a Mexican tobacco control expert. The speakers were united in their praise of The Tobacco Atlas as a critical tool in the fight against the global cancer burden. All of them emphasized how the new Spanish version of the book serves as a valuable resource to give Spanish-speakers in Latin America and other parts of the world the knowledge they need in their language to move tobacco control efforts forward in their countries, including tobacco control advocates, government officials, and the general public. Information in the The Tobacco Atlas and in the remarks of speakers at today’s press conference shows how Mexico is leading the way in tobacco control efforts in Latin America. It was the first country in the Americas to ratify the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), and has established a 100% smoke-free law in Mexico City, one of the largest cities in the world.

The press conference was covered by 24 Mexican journalists from leading Mexican media organizations. Speakers included Dr. John R. Seffrin, chief executive officer, American Cancer Society, Peter Baldini, chief executive officer, World Lung Foundation; Dr. Mauricio Hernandez Ávila, undersecretary for the Ministry of Health, Mexico; Dr. Michael Eriksen, Tobacco Atlas co-author; and Dr. Guadalupe Ponciano, director, Clinic Against Tobacco and vice-president of the Mexico Council Against Tobacco. For more information on The Tobacco Atlas, including three other language versions (English, French, and Chinese), please visit www.TobaccoAtlas.org or www.cancer.org/global.  

New UICC Report Shows Increased Access to Vaccines Will Reduce Global Cancer Burden

On February 4, the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and its more than 300 member organizations, including the American Cancer Society, with support from the World Health Organization, raise awareness of cancer prevention on World Cancer Day 2010. This day marks the launch of a new UICC cancer campaign, Cancer can be prevented too, and the release of a new UICC report, Protection Against Cancer-causing Infections. The new campaign and report highlight the good news that about 40 percent of all cancers are preventable. The report identifies cancers that can be caused by infectious agents, such as viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, and how these cancers can be prevented through vaccines and the adoption of simple protective or avoidance strategies. In a joint statement (see link below), the American Cancer Society, GAVI Alliance, and LIVESTRONG® support global access to vaccines called for in the new UICC report.

Each year, 12 million people receive a cancer diagnosis and 7.6 million people die of cancer worldwide. If no action is taken, the cancer burden will increase significantly, with the most rapid increases occurring in low- and middle-income countries. On World Cancer Day 2010, the American Cancer Society and other cancer control organizations focus on how the risk of developing cancer can be reduced through simple measures, such as stopping tobacco use, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding excessive sun exposure.

Please visit the American Cancer Society global programs Web page at www.cancer.org/international for more information on World Cancer Day 2010, to download the new UICC report, and for the joint statement from the American Cancer Society, GAVI Alliance, and LIVESTRONG®.

New American Cancer Society-sponsored Cancer and Tobacco Control Channel Launched on South African Health Web Site

A new cancer and tobacco channel sponsored by the American Cancer Society has been launched on the Health-e Web site, an award-winning South African health news Web site. The Web site channel, located at http://health-e.org.za/cancer, currently has stories on The Tobacco Atlas, Third Edition, co-published by the American Cancer Society and the World Lung Foundation; an interview with John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer, American Cancer Society; and the launch of Campaign 4 Cancer by an American Cancer Society grantee. The Web site channel editor is Anso Thom, a former CNN African Journalist of the Year and recipient of the Kaiser Family Foundation award for best reporting in Africa on HIV/AIDS. Anso was a journalist scholar last year at the American Cancer Society Media Summit in South Africa. She is an American Cancer Society journalist fellow at the Society’s Media Summit taking place now in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and will be reporting this week from the 2009 African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) Conference in the same location. Health-e stories on cancer and tobacco control from the Tanzania conference will appear on the Web site, in leading South African newspapers, and on leading South African radio stations.

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.

Oxford Health Alliance Videos Featuring American Cancer Society International Activities

Image from the Oxford Health Alliance video on American Cancer Society international activities released on April 3.

The American Cancer Society is collaborating with the Oxford Health Alliance (OxHA) to produce videos for OxHA’s Web site www.3four50.com that highlight the Society’s international programs and activities. This Web site is part of an OxHA health initiative, an awareness-raising and action-based online social network aimed at preventing chronic disease. Four videos have been posted online so far, with more on the way soon. To view the American Cancer Society-related videos already posted (on February 20, March 6, March 20, and April 3), please visit the 3FOUR50 Video News Web page.   

American Cancer Society’s India Cancer Initiative Launches New Web Site

The India Cancer Initiative project reached a major milestone with the official launch of a Web site for the initiative at a special screening of the Atlanta Indo-American Film Festival held at the High Museum of Art on October 3. The Web site, primarily aimed at the Asian Indian community living in the US, provides information on the cancer crisis in India, the American Cancer Society’s efforts to address the India cancer burden, and ways that the community can contribute to the cause. The American Cancer Society launched the India Cancer Initiative to further its reach on the global fight against cancer, providing a platform to empower Indians to make informed decisions around cancer treatment, prevention, and early detection; reduce tobacco use through tobacco cessation programs; and improve the quality of life of cancer patients by addressing their physical, psychological, and social needs. The American Cancer Society’s South Atlantic Division spearheaded the creation and launch of the Web site, and it has taken a leadership role in helping promote the Web site among the Asian Indian community in the United States. For more information on the India Cancer Initiative, please visit www.cancer.org/indiainitiative

New Web Site Connects Latin American Cancer Control NGOs

RedCancer is a new Web site that promotes increased networking and the exchange of best practices in the fight against cancer among Latin American cancer control nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). This Web site is supported by the American Cancer Society as part of the Society’s three-year Latin America Regional Health Grants Program. Fourteen NGOs that have participated in American Cancer Society University (ACSU) trainings are already connected through this publically accessible Web site. The site allows NGO users to share their insights on such subjects as fundraising, volunteerism, and advocacy through a blog; there’s also an area for uploading documents, presentations, project summaries, and event pictures. In addition, the NGOs have promoted press coverage of the Web site, which has generated more than 50 media stories in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Venezuela. To learn more about RedCancer, visit www.RedCancer.org. To view a recent news report on RedCancer that appeared in Spanish on Argentine television, please visit Un Sitio Web Para Pacientes con Cáncer.