Special Coverage

After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. Millions of women are living with breast cancer and survival rates have improved over time thanks, in part, to early detection and advances in treatment.

The American Cancer Society is committed to helping prevent breast cancer, developing guidelines that help find breast cancers early, and providing support and information about treatment options and coping with physical and emotional side effects. We also fund research that leads to finding better ways to prevent, detect, and treat breast cancer.

Today, because of advances in treatment, many children diagnosed with cancer will grow up as survivors. But sometimes the treatments that help children survive cancer also raise their risk for health problems as they get older. Learn how the American Cancer Society is involved in fighting childhood cancer and finding ways to improve treatments so there are fewer effects later in life.

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in the US for men and women. But many colorectal cancers can be prevented or caught early, when they might be easier to treat. That’s why getting screened is so important. Learn more about colorectal cancer, screening tests, and lifesaving research.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women and the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Learn about the American Cancer Society's comprehensive approach to combating lung cancer.

Due to the economic effects of COVID-19, the American Cancer Society is facing a significant funding shortage that is threatening our ability to invest in vital cancer research.

The Friday before Memorial Day is designated Don’t Fry Day – a day to raise awareness of sun safety and encourage everyone to take steps to protect their skin. Learn what to do to help lower your risk for skin cancer.

Every April the American Cancer Society and other organizations work together to raise awareness about cancer among minorities in honor of National Minority Health Month and National Minority Cancer Awareness Week.

The American Cancer Society regularly reviews the science and updates screening recommendations when new evidence suggests that a change may be needed. Learn about the latest guideline designed to save lives by finding colorectal cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful, or by preventing it in the first place by finding and removing pre-cancerous polyps.

The American Cancer Society strongly urges that young people should never start using e-cigarettes or vaping in any form. The high levels of nicotine found in many vaping products are particularly concerning because of the rapid rise of middle and high school students using e-cigarettes. While the long-term effects of e-cigarette use are not yet known, the addictive effects of nicotine on young brains are.

Cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death for women in the US. However, death rates have decreased by more than 50% over the past 40 years and continue to fall every year. The American Cancer Society helps educate women about reducing the risk of getting cervical cancer, the benefits of HPV vaccination, screening for cervical cancer, understanding a diagnosis, and supports them in getting the treatments they need. The American Cancer Society also funds new research to help prevent, find, and treat cervical cancer.

Each June, cancer survivors celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day, sponsored by the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation. For the nearly 17 million cancer survivors in the US, the event includes hundreds of life-affirming gatherings across the US and is a time to celebrate life.

Every February 4th, the world population unites in the fight against cancer. Events are planned in cities around the world to raise awareness about cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment.

The American Cancer Society regularly reviews the science and updates screening recommendations when new evidence suggests that a change may be needed. Learn about the latest guideline designed to save lives by finding breast cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful.

It has been 50 years since the landmark Surgeon General’s report linking smoking to lung cancer and other diseases – a report that launched the anti-tobacco movement in the U.S. Learn more about how American Cancer Society research helped establish that link.