American Cancer Society

About: American Cancer Society is a nonprofit organization based out in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Population. The organization has 1339 authors who have published 3700 publications receiving 688166 citations. The organization is also known as: American Cancer Society, ACS & American Society for the Control of Cancer.

Cancer screening in the United States, 2008: a review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and cancer screening issues.

Abstract: Each year the American Cancer Society (ACS) publishes a summary of its recommendations for early cancer detection and a summary of the most current data on cancer screening rates and trends in US adults. In 2007, the ACS updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines in a collaborative effort with the US Multi-Society Task Force and the American College of Radiology. In this issue of the journal, we summarize the current ACS guidelines, provide an update of the most recent data pertaining to participation rates in cancer screening from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the National Health Interview Survey, and address some issues related to access to care.

Symptom burden in cancer survivors 1 year after diagnosis

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined risk for severe symptoms during early cancer survivorship. By using baseline data from the American Cancer Society's Study of Cancer Survivors-I, the authors examined cancer survivors with high symptom burden, identified risk factors associated with high symptom burden, and evaluated the impact of high symptom burden on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) 1 year postdiagnosis. METHODS: Participants were enrolled from 11 state cancer registries approximately 1 year after diagnosis and were surveyed by telephone or mail. The outcomes measures used were the Modified Rotterdam Symptom Checklist and the Profile of Mood States-37 (to assess symptom burden) and the Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale-Cancer (to assess HRQoL). RESULTS: Of 4903 survivors, 4512 (92%) reported symptoms related to their cancer and/or its treatment. Two-step clustering yielded 2 subgroups, 1 with low symptom burden (n = 3113) and 1 with high symptom burden (n = 1399). Variables that were associated with high symptom burden included lung cancer (odds ratio [OR], 2.27), metastatic cancer (OR, 2.05), the number of comorbid conditions (OR, 1.76), remaining on active chemotherapy (OR, 1.93), younger age (OR, 2.31), lacking insurance/being underinsured (OR, 1.57), having lower income (OR, 1.61), being unemployed (OR, 1.27), and being less educated (OR, 1.29). Depression, fatigue, and pain had the greatest impact on HRQoL in survivors with high symptom burden, who also had lower HRQoL (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: More than 1 in 4 cancer survivors had high symptom burden 1 year postdiagnosis, even after treatment termination. These results indicate a need for continued symptom monitoring and management in early post-treatment survivorship, especially for the underserved. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.

Racial and ethnic variations in incidence and survival of cutaneous melanoma in the United States, 1999-2006

Abstract: Background Most melanoma studies use data from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program or individual cancer registries. Small numbers of melanoma cases have limited in-depth analyses for all racial and ethnic groups. Objective We sought to describe racial and ethnic variations in melanoma incidence and survival. Methods Incidence for invasive melanoma and 5-year melanoma-specific survival were calculated for whites, blacks, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Asians/Pacific Islanders (API), and Hispanics using data from 38 population-based cancer registries. Results Incidence rates of melanoma were significantly higher for females than males among whites and Hispanics under 50 years of age and APIs under 40 years of age. White and black patients were older (median age: 59-63 years) compared with Hispanics, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, and API (median age: 52-56 years). The most common histologic type was acral lentiginous melanoma among blacks and superficial spreading melanoma among all other racial and ethnic groups. Hispanics had the highest incidence rate of acral lentiginous melanoma, significantly higher than whites and API. Nonwhites were more likely to have advanced and thicker melanomas at diagnosis and lower melanoma-specific survival compared with whites. Limitations Over 50% of melanoma cases did not have specified histology. The numbers of nonwhite patients were still relatively small despite broad population coverage (67% of United States). Conclusions Racial and ethnic differences in age at melanoma diagnosis, anatomic sites, and histologic types suggest variations in etiologic pathways. The high percentages of advanced and thicker melanomas among nonwhites highlight the need to improve melanoma awareness for all race and ethnicity in the United States.

Beyond treatment - Psychosocial and behavioural issues in cancer survivorship research and practice

Abstract: The population of cancer survivors has grown steadily over the past several decades. Surviving cancer, however, is not synonymous with a life free of problems related to the disease and its treatment. In this paper we provide a brief overview of selected physical and psychosocial health problems prevalent among cancer survivors, namely pain, fatigue, psychological distress and work participation. We also address issues surrounding self-management and e-Health interventions for cancer survivors, and programmes to encourage survivors to adopt healthier lifestyles. Finally, we discuss approaches to assessing health-related quality of life in cancer survivors, and the use of cancer registries in conducting psychosocial survivorship research. We highlight research and practice priorities in each of these areas. While the priorities vary per topic, common themes that emerged included: (1) Symptoms should not be viewed in isolation, but rather as part of a cluster of interrelated symptoms. This has implications for both understanding the aetiology of symptoms and for their treatment; (2) Psychosocial interventions need to be evidence-based, and where possible should be tailored to the needs of the individual cancer survivor. Relatively low cost interventions with self-management and e-Health elements may be appropriate for the majority of survivors, with resource intensive interventions being reserved for those most in need; (3) More effort should be devoted to disseminating and implementing interventions in practice, and to evaluating their cost-effectiveness; and (4) Greater attention should be paid to the needs of vulnerable and high-risk populations of survivors, including the socioeconomically disadvantaged and the elderly.

Two large prospective studies of mortality among men who use snuff or chewing tobacco (United States)

Abstract: Background: Few prospective studies have examined the health risks associated with use of snuff and chewing tobacco. Methods: We studied the association between the use of spit tobacco (snuff or chewing tobacco) and mortality among men enrolled in Cancer Prevention Study I (CPS-I) in 1959 or Cancer Prevention Study II (CPS-II) in 1982. Analyses were based on men who reported exclusive use of snuff or chewing tobacco (7745 in CPS-I, 3327 in CPS-II) or no previous use of any tobacco product (69,662 in CPS-I, 111,482 in CPS-II) at baseline. Twelve-year follow-up of CPS-I, and 18-year follow-up of CPS-II identified 11,871 and 19,588 deaths, respectively. Cox proportional hazards models were used to control for age and other covariates. Results: Men who currently used snuff or chewing tobacco at baseline had higher death rates from all causes than men who did not in both CPS-I (hazard ratio [HR]=1.17, 95% CI=1.11–1.23) and CPS-II (HR=1.18, 95% CI=1.08–1.29). In CPS-I, current use of spit tobacco was statistically significantly associated with death from coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and diseases of the respiratory, digestive, and genitourinary systems, but not with death from cancer. In CPS-II, use of these products was significantly associated with death from CHD, stroke, all cancers combined, lung cancer, and cirrhosis. The associations with cardiovascular and other non-malignant endpoints were attenuated, but not eliminated, by controlling for measured covariates. Former use of spit tobacco was not associated with any endpoint in CPS-II. No clear dose response was observed with either the frequency or duration of usage for any endpoint. Conclusions: These two prospective studies provide limited evidence that current use of chewing tobacco or snuff may increase mortality from heart disease and stroke.