The National Society
A National Assembly provides basic representation from the Divisions and additional representation on the basis of population. They elect a volunteer Board of Directors which provides leadership in the establishment of organizational goals, ensure management accountability, and provide stewardship of the donated funds. The National Society is responsible for overall planning and coordination of the Society's cancer control activities in prevention, detection, and the enhancement of the quality of life of cancer patients and their families. The National Society also provides technical help and materials for Divisions and Units, and administers programs of research, medical grants, and clinical fellowships.

The Division
These are governed by volunteer members of Division Boards of Directors both medical and lay throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

The Units
Units are organized to deliver cancer control programs in communities throughout the United States. They are led by thousands of local volunteers who direct the activities and programs of the Society at the community level. Descriptions of some of the Society's major programs follow.

ADVOCACY & PUBLIC POLICY

Cancer is a political issue. Every day, government policymakers make decisions that affect the lives of nearly 10 million cancer patients, survivors, their families, and all those at risk for developing cancer. To impact those decisions positively, the Society has identified advocacy as one of its top corporate priorities and works nationwide to promote beneficial policies, laws, and regulations for those affected by cancer.

Issues and Answers
In concert with its cancer research, prevention, and control initiatives, the Society's advocacy initiatives strive to influence public policies with special emphasis on laws or regulations to:

• Finance cancer research initiatives
• Ensure access to quality health care
• Reform managed care and protect patients
• Allow scientists to conduct potentially beneficial genetic and bioresearch with appropriate review and controls in place
• Prevent and reduce tobacco use
• Increase access to and participation in clinical trials
• Improve the management of cancer pain and symptoms
• Reduce cancer incidence rates and deaths among the medically underserved
• Provide early detection and treatment options for site-specific cancers

Cancer Resources
The American Cancer Society has identified areas where resource allocation can have an impact on cancer incidence and mortality. These steps begin with cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and research. More resources should be used to prevent cancer as scientific advances allow and as capacity for prevention increases. More funding is needed to answer the public's call for an increased investment in research to turn today's knowledge into tomorrow's cancer breakthroughs. Urging legislative bodies to fund these efforts moves everyone closer to our ultimate goal of defeating cancer.

Advocacy Successes
Together, grassroots action, direct lobbying, and applied policy analysis work to influence policy, laws, and regulations affecting the Society's nationwide priorities and 2015 goals. In doing so, the Society has become an established leader on cancer issues and a respected voice for the cancer community before Congress and the Administration. Society advocacy initiatives rely on the combined efforts of a community-based grassroots network of cancer survivors, caregivers, volunteers, staff, health care professionals, public health organizations, and other collaborative partners who have successfully influenced or supported policies, laws and regulations to:

• Enhance or ensure the role of the US Food and Drug Administration in regulating tobacco products
• Enact health insurance market reforms to expand coverage and ensure portability and continuity of health insurance coverage for individuals with a history of cancer or other serious illnesses
• Broaden the scope of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program to give medically underserved women the necessary tools needed to fight breast and cervical cancers
• Institute strong quality standards for clinics providing mammography and ensure patients receive timely and accurate information
• Increase federal funding for cancer research, prevention, and control activities
• Ensure funds derived from the 1998 multi-state tobacco settlement are at least partially obligated toward tobacco prevention and cessation programs
• Enact smoke-free ordinances at the local and state level to ensure all workers are protected from secondhand smoke exposure in their place of employment
• Advocate for and promote the new "Welcome to Medicare" wellness physical for new Medicare beneficiaries to encourage patients to talk with their doctors about health risk factors, cancer screenings, and other cancer prevention strategies
• Establish federal and state private insurance coverage laws or other policies that increase coverage for colorectal cancer screening according to Society guidelines in all 50 states, while simultaneously working to protect the laws that are on the books
• Authorize a CDC pilot program for colorectal cancer screening and treatment in medically underserved communities through federal legislation (The pilot program would further the Society's goal of lowering cancer incidence and mortality among minority and other medically underserved populations.)
• Urge for passage of the Patient Navigator, Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act - landmark legislation that would expand access to prevention, early detection, and treatment services for cancer and chronic diseases in medically underserved communities

Cancer Disparities and the Underserved
Despite notable advances in prevention interventions, screening technologies, and high-quality treatments, a disproportionate burden of cancer continues to fall on a number of the uninsured, minority, and other medically underserved populations. The demographic changes that are anticipated over the next decade magnify the urgency of addressing these health disparities. As a result, improving the future health of America as a whole depends substantially on our success in improving the health of minority and other medically underserved populations.

Medically underserved populations have higher risks of developing cancer and poorer chances of early diagnosis, optimal treatment, and survival. Moreover, they have not benefited equally from recent improvements in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. For almost two decades, the American Cancer Society has engaged in a major initiative to address the needs of these high cancer risk populations while working to eliminate disparities in the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer, as well as in quality of life. The Society's major strategies to address cancer disparities include:

• Providing local leadership in cancer prevention and control in communities nationwide through collaboration with community-based organizations that address priority interests of the poor and the underserved - including health, education, spirituality, recreation, and safety
• Conducting and supporting medical and behavioral research to discover effective cancer prevention practices, early detection measures, and treatments among populations experiencing disparities in cancer incidence and mortality
• Advocating at all levels of government for public policies, funding, and leadership to ensure that all cancer patients have access to culturally relevant information, high-quality, affordable primary care, preventive care, treatment, and follow up services which improve health outcomes and quality of life (This includes advocacy for breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment, colorectal screening and treatment, tobacco control, comprehensive school health education, and access to health care.)