American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network - ACS CAN

06/07/2026

National Cancer Survivors Day is a chance to not only recognize, honor and celebrate cancer survivors and their cancer experiences, but also promote awareness of survivorship challenges.

The difficulties of a cancer diagnosis do not end when treatment ends; there can be long-term health concerns for survivors.

Today, ACS CAN reaffirms our commitment to advocate for evidence-based policies that benefit cancer patients, survivors and their families.

06/05/2026

An alarming trend is surfacing: the re-glamorization of to***co use, driven by the to***co industry. This time, Gen Z is the target.

Research shows that media exposure to to***co imagery among young people makes them more likely to start using to***co products like ci******es and e-ci******es. Although to***co prevention efforts have helped cigarette use reach historic lows, the rate of to***co product use among kids is unacceptable.

As to***co use causes about 343,000 cancer deaths in the United States every year, this reinforces the importance of continuing this lifesaving work.

Spread the word to help us raise awareness about reducing to***co use in the fight against cancer.

06/03/2026

Let us reintroduce you to our phenomenal LGBTQIA+ & Allies Engagement Group! This amazing team of volunteers is one of our six volunteer affinity groups that work to reduce cancer disparities in their communities. The LGBTQIA+ & Allies Engagement Group advocates for an environment of inclusion, equity, and involvement of the LGBTQIA+ community in ACS CAN’s initiatives and campaigns.

This affinity group has helped shape what allyship means at ACS CAN! From helping build breakout trainings at events like to collaborating with the other affinity groups to produce virtual events, they are constantly making sure we are all doing our best to show up for marginalized communities.

We’re thankful to have volunteers who continuously advocate to eliminate health disparities and support our work to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Learn more about the group: https://www.fightcancer.org/lgbtqia-and-allies-engagement-group

06/02/2026

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released an interim final rule on work requirements, which makes it more difficult for people who are medically frail—including —to be exempt from the work requirements as Congress intended as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“We are incredibly concerned by the impact this rule could have on those struggling with cancer," says ACS CAN President Lisa A. Lacasse. "One of the most significant factors in whether someone survives a cancer diagnosis is whether they have health insurance coverage. Knowing 1 in 3 children diagnosed with the disease and 1 in 10 people with a history of cancer currently count on Medicaid for their health insurance, this coverage is a matter of life or death for millions of people nationwide."

As these work requirements are implemented, ACS CAN will continue to engage policymakers and government agencies at the federal and state levels to minimize harm among patients and anyone who needs cancer screenings and preventive services.

“We call on officials at every level of government to clearly communicate these new requirements to Medicaid enrollees to minimize confusion and coverage loss for individuals who remain eligible. Ending cancer as we know it, for everyone, means making sure everyone can successfully navigate these new requirements.”

Read the full statement:

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released today an interim final rule on work requirement implementation in Medicaid.

06/02/2026

Members of Congress are currently working on their next spending bill, and the future of cancer cures is on the line.

That’s why dozens of ACS CAN cancer advocates recently went to Capitol Hill to support increased federal funding for cancer research at the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) Subcommittee hearing on the budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Representing communities from 11 states and Washington, D.C., they underscored the urgent need to protect and strengthen funding for the NIH and the National Cancer Institute.

Our volunteers also received shoutouts from Senator Katie Boyd Britt, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Senator Shelley Moore Capito—thank you for recognizing their contributions.

Thank you to LHHS Subcommittee Chair Senator Capito and Ranking Member Senator Tammy Baldwin for your support, and to NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and NCI Director Dr. Tony Letai for providing testimony.

On behalf of cancer patients, survivors, and their families, we’ll keep fighting for continued lifesaving investment in cancer research and prevention.

Send your lawmakers a message now urging them to protect and increase this essential funding: https://act.fightcancer.org/a/send-message-congress-now-prioritize-cancer-research-funding?utm_source=fb3&utm_campaign=research&utm_id=research3&utm_medium=social&ms=research_research3_social_fb3

05/31/2026

ICYMI: ACS CAN hosted our 15th annual National Forum on the Future of Health Care, this year titled Cancer Care in Rural America: Improving Access for Better Outcomes. The event brought together policy experts, medical professionals and ACS CAN advocates to discuss how evidence-based policy solutions can be implemented to alleviate the cancer disparities that exist in rural America.

Our latest Survivor Views survey, which was released during the Forum, found that 53% of cancer patients and survivors in rural areas find it difficult to afford their cancer care. Half have incurred medical debt related to the costs of that care, and an overwhelming majority (70%) are concerned about incurring new medical debt due to their cancer care.

These stark statistics helped guide meaningful panels and conversations about how cancer advocates can work together to eliminate these disparities.

“When facing a cancer diagnosis, where you live shouldn’t determine if you live,” says Lisa Lacasse, ACS CAN President. ““This survey underscores the need to advance policy solutions that will help improve access to high quality, affordable health care, such as sustainable funding for patient navigation services, among other interventions. This will help reduce the cancer burden for everyone, no matter where they live.””

Watch the recording: https://www.fightcancer.org/policy-resources/acs-can-national-forum-rural-health-care

Read the full polling memo: https://www.fightcancer.org/policy-resources/survivor-views-rural-health

05/30/2026

For our May Volunteer Spotlight, we’re excited to highlight Dr. Marina Watanabe, Vice State Lead Ambassador with American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Massachusetts - ACS CAN and a leader in the AAPI Volunteer Caucus, one of ACS CAN’s volunteer affinity groups.

Marina volunteers with ACS CAN in memory of her mother, who died of lung cancer before Marina turned 10. She has grown into a tremendous advocate and leader for ACS CAN, and she’s particularly passionate about working to eliminate health disparities that exist in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community.

Volunteers like Marina are the heart of ACS CAN. If her story inspires you, we invite you to join us as a volunteer: https://www.fightcancer.org/volunteer-for-acs-can

05/28/2026

Meet our fantastic Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Volunteer Caucus! As one of our six volunteer affinity groups, the AAPI Volunteer Caucus works to engage the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community in ACS CAN’s to advance representation, raise awareness about health disparities, and reflect generational and language differences in their unique communities.

To help reduce the cancer burden in AANHPI communities, the caucus works to increase education about cancer screening through online campaigns and events. Recently, members of the caucus created videos that share their cancer connections and highlight disparities for AANHPI populations, such as lower cancer screening rates compared to White populations.

This , we’re grateful to the AAPI Volunteer Caucus for all they do for ACS CAN and the fight against cancer. We’re honored to have volunteers like these who work to fight inequity by sharing their stories. Everyone deserves a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. With help from our affinity groups, this can become a reality. https://www.fightcancer.org/asian-american-pacific-islander-volunteer-caucus

05/27/2026

Did you know your vote can save lives?

Our nonpartisan electoral program, , has the power to bring cancer issues to the forefront of elections by working to get candidates on the record about cancer issues.