Your Health

Progress Being Made In Fight Against Cancer

Posted: 12/21/2011

New interactive website explores milestones in progress against cancer.

(NAPSI)—Many victories have been achieved in the war against cancer, but the most important one may be discovering that cancer is not one disease but hundreds of different ones.

When the U.S. Congress declared war on cancer by passing the National Cancer Act in 1971, many people hoped that “a cure” would be found quickly for what was then considered a single disease. Doctors and scientists now know that they are not looking for just one cure, but many.

Much progress has been made. Cancer was once a terminal diagnosis, but today, thanks to government funding for research, there are 12 million cancer survivors in the U.S.

Scientists now know there are hundreds of changes that occur at the smallest human cellular level that cause cancer. Many new treatments have been developed and directed at those cellular changes to effectively treat cancer. Much like diabetes, in many cases, cancer is becoming a chronic disease that can be managed.

Today, more cancer patients are living longer with a better quality of life. Since 1971, the average five-year survival rate for all cancers has increased by 18 percent, and two out of three cancer patients live at least five years after a cancer diagnosis.

To mark the anniversary of the National Cancer Act, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has launched CancerProgress.Net (www.cancerpro gress.net), an interactive website demonstrating four decades of progress against cancer. The site offers information about major advances in cancer treatment, prevention and diagnosis. It provides useful tools designed for anyone interested in progress against cancer, including:

• A time line of advances in cancer research

• Tools that bring cancer statistics to life

• Video interviews with top experts

• Resources to download

• Information on priorities for the future of clinical cancer research.

CancerProgress.Net was developed under the guidance of an editorial board of 17 of the nation’s leading oncologists.

About the American Society of Clinical Oncology

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer. With more than 30,000 members, ASCO is committed to improving cancer care through scientific meetings. For ASCO information and resources, visit www.asco.org. Patient-oriented cancer information is available at www.cancer.net.

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