Paper Example on Education and Support from the ACS

Introduction

The American Cancer Society (ACS) can provide education and support to a family friend diagnosed with cancer through its website and telephone support that is available 24 hours a day. The patient will benefit from the free information provided by the organization about many things, such as types of cancer, different treatment techniques, how to make treatment decisions, how to cope with the side effects, handling financial matters, and emotional support (American Cancer Society, 2018b). Apart from people who have just been diagnosed with cancer, the organization also provides information and emotional support to those under treatment every step of the way. Also, resources, services, and programs are offered in the organization's Find Support and Treatment Section without the need for transportation or lodging.

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Cancer patients are always in need of up-to-date information on cancer. Such information can easily be obtained in ACS because the provision of up-to-date information is its priority. Plenty of information is available on the organization's website, and people who still have questions can call the organization's 24-7 helpline. ACS has many cancer specialists who carry out their responsibilities in line with the mission of the organization, which is saving lives, celebrating lives, and being at the forefront of the fight aimed at having a world without cancer.

The service I would recommend to the family member diagnosed with cancer is the Patient Navigation Program of ACS. The significance of this program is that it helps guide, support, and inform many people diagnosed with cancer through every step of their journey. The cancer news is devastating to patients and the family members. Mostly, when patients or families are given such devastating news, usually they are not sure what to do or where to turn to. Furthermore, they are often not sure of what will be covered by insurance companies or how to deal with financial matters. However, ACS is present to help deal with all these and even provide more help. Patients and their families can get adequate support and help from the Patient Navigation Program of the organization (American Cancer Society, 2018b).

Factors Contributing to the Yearly Incidence and Mortality Rates of Various Cancers in Americans

80 percent of the factors contributing to cancer and its mortality have been identified and can potentially be controlled. This means that most cancers can be prevented, and the survival rate of patients having cancer can be improved. Studies show that 30 percent of cancers are attributed to tobacco (Physicians Committee. n.d.). Among the most obvious examples is lung cancer. Moreover, tobacco also causes the cancer of the bladder, kidney, mouth, and throat.

Additionally, dietary factors also play a fundamental role in cancer risk and mortality. Currently, one-third of cancer deaths every year in the United States is as a result of dietary factors. Research on cancer and diet estimated that about 80 percent of cancer of the prostate, breast, and the large bowel is caused by dietary factors.

In the year 2008, many studies on cancer were carried out. These studies found that 124,000 new cancer diagnoses were attributed to excess body weight. The studies further determined that the most common weight-related cancer is post-menopausal breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and endometrial (uterine) cancer. Out of all cancers related to excess body weight, 65 percent was found to be these three types of cancers. The impact of obesity or excess body weight raises mortality from many other kinds of cancer, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, pancreas, ovary, cervix, and gallbladder in women having the highest body mass index (BMI) compared to people having normal BMI (Physicians Committee. n.d.). Studies show that people who follow a vegan end up having the lowest BMI of any group. Some examples of a vegan diet are nonvegetarian, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, semivegetarian, and pesco-vegetarian. Following this diet accurately makes people to be less vulnerable to obesity-related cancers. Animal products have carcinogenic compounds that potentially increase cancer risk while vegetables and fruits have antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that protect the body.

Apart from diet and tobacco use, there are also other factors that increase susceptibility to specific forms of cancers (Figure 1). Among these factors are reduced or lack of physical activity, exposure to chemicals and radiation, viral and bacterial infections, and sexual and reproductive behavior.

Figure 1. Estimated Percentage of Cancer as a result of selected factors (Physicians Committee. n.d.).

A Research Program Funded by the American Cancer Society

An example of a research program that is funded by ACS is the cancer control and prevention research. This is research that is focused on behavior that can improve early detection of cancer, reduce cancer risk, and enhance the quality of life of cancer patients as well as their families (American Cancer Society, 2018a). Also, attention is also focused on ways of attaining health equity among groups that are disadvantaged.

This research will determine all cancer risk factors by studying many people over a long time. The significance of determining cancer risk factors is that it will make it easier to devise strategies for combating the risk factors, thereby reducing the incidences of cancer and well as its mortality. When it comes to this research as well as others funded by ACS, many people are recruited through the successful partnership between volunteers and ACS. The individuals studied will then provide crucial information, such as about their behavior, medical, and lifestyle, during the process of enrollment and they will be followed and studied over time to determine their health results. An important thing that determines the success of these studies is the commitment of volunteers and study participants.

A study similar to this that was first carried out by the organization is the Hammond-Horn cohort study. This research was performed between the years 1952 and 1955 (American Cancer Society, 2018c). At the end of the study, prospective evidence was determined to show the relationship between lung cancer and cigarette smoking in men. In this cohort, 22,000 volunteers recruited 188,000 men, who were followed over time.

Therefore, the cancer prevention and control research intends to come up with a different contribution in the global scientific community and within ACS with regards to the prevention and control of cancer (American Cancer Society, 2018c). Such a contribution gives ACS the opportunity to use its resources on elements that are crucial in promoting health and preventing cancer. Various types of research similar to this one have allowed epidemiologists of ACS to write more than 750 scientific articles. The findings have crucially contributed to other cancer studies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ACS has enough information about different types of cancers. This information is provided to the public at no cost. People diagnosed with cancer and those undergoing cancer treatment can access this information quickly on the organization's website. Also, support and help can be obtained from the helpline of the organization. The goal of ACS is to make the lives of people better and make the world free of cancer and its risk factors.

References

American Cancer Society. (2018a). What We Fund. Retrieved from

https://www.cancer.org/research/we-fund-cancer-research.html

American Cancer Society. (2018b). About Us. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/about-us.html

American Cancer Society. (2018c). How the Cancer Prevention Studies Save Lives. Retrieved

from https://www.cancer.org/research/we-conduct-cancer-research/epidemiology/cancer-prevention-studies-save-lives.html

Physicians Committee. (n.d.). Factors Contributing to Cancer. Retrieved from

https://www.pcrm.org/health/cancer-resources/diet-cancer/facts/factors-contributing-to-cancer