ASCO and American Cancer Society Announce Collaboration to Empower People with Cancer Information They Can Trust

ALEXANDRIA, Va. and ATLANTA, Feb. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) today initiated a collaboration to ensure that people can easily find the trusted, expert-approved cancer content they need when turning to either organization for information. As an initial step, the organizations are cross-sharing select cancer prevention, screening, and survivorship resources on their patient and consumer education websites, Cancer.Net and Cancer.org.

"ASCO and the American Cancer Society have long shared a commitment to empowering patients with information they can trust," said ASCO Chief Executive Officer Clifford A. Hudis, MD, FACP, FASCO. "As we commemorate World Cancer Day this Friday, February 4, it is especially fitting that this week we formalize our partnership with ACS and advance our shared goal of 'closing the gap'. We are thrilled to be working together in the best interests of patients and look forward to continued collaboration in the future."

ASCO's Cancer.Net and ACS's Cancer.org have similar editorial approaches, both offering trustworthy, evidence-based information free of commercial influence. Content on Cancer.Net is reviewed and approved by an editorial board of oncologists and other experts, and Cancer.org medical content is reviewed by on-staff and external subject-matter experts, including oncologists and other specialists. By finding new ways to combine the organizations' respective expertise, both can maximize the impact for patients and the general public.

"This collaboration is a natural extension of the relationship between the organizations, and aligned to the ACS goal to improve lives. Through combining each organization's unique expertise, we will further empower patients, caregivers, and physicians by increasing access to up-to-date educational resources. Through single access points, our collaborative sites will provide the latest information on all aspects of the cancer continuum— from cancer prevention and screening to cancer care, and survivorship.  We could not be more enthusiastic about working alongside the experts at ASCO, who share our values and are longstanding partners in the fight against cancer," said Karen Knudsen, MBA, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society.

In their initial content sharing efforts, ASCO and ACS have prioritized content that reflects each organization's distinctive strengths and subject-matter expertise. The first resources available on both websites include:

• ASCO survivorship care planning resources – ASCO's survivorship care plans include information that patients and primary care providers need to plan future checkups, cancer tests, and screenings; anticipate late effects of treatment; and improve baseline health after cancer. In addition, both Cancer.Net and Cancer.org now feature survivorship resources on cancer rehabilitation, the long-term side effects of treatment, and aspects of life after cancer such as fertility, child-bearing, and post-traumatic stress.
• ACS cancer prevention and screening resources – ACS's cancer screening guidelines are a hallmark of the organization's resources for clinicians and patients as a trusted leader in the prevention and early detection of cancer. People visiting Cancer.Net will also find information from ACS about smoking and tobacco cessation, sun prevention and skin checking, and current knowledge about cancer causes and how to interpret related news.

"ASCO's survivorship care resources empower patients to be full partners in their transition out of active cancer treatment," said Jyoti D. Patel, MD, FASCO, Medical Director of Thoracic Oncology and Assistant Director for Clinical Research at the Lurie Cancer Center of Northwestern University and Cancer.Net Editor in Chief. "After treatment, patients and their families often feel a tremendous amount of uncertainty. Survivorship care plans help answer questions about what life will look like and facilitate important conversations with primary care providers. I'm thrilled that these resources are now more widely available."

"Research conducted by the American Cancer Society shows over 42% of the cases of cancer and 45% of cancer deaths are preventable," said Carmen E. Guerra, MD, MSCE, FACP, Associate Professor at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania and Associate Director of Diversity and Outreach at the Abramson Cancer Center. Dr. Guerra is also a member of the American Cancer Society's National Board of Directors. "Prevention also offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer. This new partnership between ASCO-ACS will increase the availability and awareness of prevention and early detection strategies that we already know work and which can help to reduce the number of preventable cancers and cancer deaths."

ASCO and ACS will promote their shared content visibly on Cancer.Net and Cancer.org, as well as through social media and patient and provider outreach.

About the American Society of Clinical Oncology
Founded in 1964, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO^®) is committed to the principle that knowledge conquers cancer. Together with the Association for Clinical Oncology, ASCO represents nearly 45,000 oncology professionals who care for people living with cancer. Through research, education, and promotion of high quality, equitable patient care, ASCO works to conquer cancer and create a world where cancer is prevented or cured, and every survivor is healthy. Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, supports ASCO by funding groundbreaking research and education across cancer's full continuum. Learn more at www.ASCO.org, explore patient education resources at www.Cancer.Net, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. 

About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is on a mission to free the world from cancer. We invest in lifesaving research, provide 24/7 information and support, and work to ensure that individuals in every community have access to cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. For more information, visit cancer.org.

SOURCE American Cancer Society