Other supporters include the American Medical Association (AMA), a professional group representing doctors; Families USA, a nonprofit organization representing healthcare consumers; the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), a group representing pharmaceutical companies; Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, a not-for-profit healthcare insurer; and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a labor union.

The goal of the campaign is to urge Congress and President-elect Obama to make healthcare reform a national priority, reform that's necessary "to get the economy working again," according to the ad. It does not promote a specific plan.

"Cancer patients across the country -- including those with insurance -- often must dig deep into their savings and risk financial ruin to pay for cancer treatment and care," said John R. Seffrin, Ph. D., Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer Society and its advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN, at the briefing. "Elected officials should recognize what cancer patient and their families already know -- that fixing the economy requires that we fix the broken health care system."

In addition to the paid media effort, the 6 organizations plan to host joint grassroots events promoting healthcare reform in various cities around the county. Details are still being determined.

The ad reinforces goals set out by the American Cancer Society's Access to Care campaign, a national initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the numbers and struggles of uninsured and underinsured people in the United States. It was launched in 2007.

To view the ad and to learn more about ACS CAN and find out how you can get involved in the fight against cancer, visit www.acscan.org.