The American Cancer Society Essay examples -- Cancer Education, Resea

The American Cancer Society is a volunteer-based organization that is present across the United States. Its main purpose is to raise money and awareness about the severity and prevalence of cancer. Cancer education and research is where most of the focus and monetary donations are used for. The American Cancer Society strives to fulfill their goal of â€Å"less cancer and more birthdays† across all generations and populations (ACS Inc., 2011). The American Cancer Society began its fight in 1913, starting as the American Society for the Control of Cancer (ASCC), which included fifteen members in New York City (ACS Inc, 2011). Cancer was never a high-priority disease and was often pushed to the side due to the fact that there was no treatment, harsh conditions, and low diagnosis. In 1945, after WWII, the ASCC was reorganized and renamed as the American Cancer Society (ACS) (ACS Inc, 2011). At this point, America was able to recognize problems on the home-front, which major public health issues were obvious. In 1946, a woman by the name of Mary Lasker, a member of the original ASCC, helped raise more than $4 million for the Society, where one million of it was used to establish and fund infamous cancer research (ACS Inc, 2011). Soon after, Dr. Sidney Farber, one of the Society’s first research grantees, achieved the first temporary cancer remission in a child with acute leukemia using the drug Aminopterin (ACS Inc, 2011). The ACS has been developing research theories for decades, with approximately $3.5 billion dedicated to finding a cure to cancer through research (ACS, 2011). With the ACS name nationally recognized, they were able to help fund many national, government, and hospital prevention strategies and research. Currently, t... ...faith. Even though my friend lost his battle with esophageal cancer, he raised over $50,000 for the ACS with the help of our community, family, and friends. He wanted to repay ACS for what they did for him and wanted nothing more than to save someone else from what he was had to go through. ACS stayed by his side until the end giving him hope and support, and for that, I feel they are a remarkable organization. I do not feel that any improvements need to be made for this organization. They utilize all types of prevention and educational tools, including technology, media, and events. ACS can only continue their research in hopes of finding the cure to cancer. Time is the only factor that may be for, or against, the Society’s efforts. Spreading faith, knowledge, and strategies to overcome cancer is the only way to keep individuals safe from the burden of cancer.