The American Cancer Society responds.The misrepresentations and unfounded claims leveled at the American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, n.pr established in 1913, this national volunteer-based health organization is committed to the elimination of cancer through prevention and treatment and to diminishing cancer suffering through advocacy, scholarship, research, and others by long-time critic Dr. Samuel Epstein in your magazine ("Why We Are Still Losing the Winnable Cancer War," January/February 2005) are not new but they compel us to respond. Epstein claims the fight against cancer is fixated fix·ate v. fix·at·ed, fix·at·ing, fix·ates v.tr. 1. To make fixed, stable, or stationary. 2. To focus one's eyes or attention on: fixate a faint object. on lifestyle factors like smoking, obesity, physical activity, and nutrition. These factors are an important part of the fight against cancer, and for good reason. Together, they are estimated to cause two out of three cancer deaths in the United States. But that is only one part of what we do. The American Cancer Society also currently funds a dozen studies totaling more than $7.5 million on environmental carcinogens Carcinogens Substances in the environment that cause cancer, presumably by inducing mutations, with prolonged exposure. Mentioned in: Colon Cancer, Rectal Cancer , a level of support comparable to that for kidney cancer Kidney Cancer Definition Kidney cancer is a disease in which the cells in certain tissues of the kidney start to grow uncontrollably and form tumors. which this year will kill an estimated 12.6 million Americans. The American Cancer Society has a proud history of supporting promising early research, having now funded thirty-eight Nobel Prize winners Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel Year Recipient(s) 1969 Ragnar Frisch Jan Tinbergen 1970 Paul A. Samuelson 1971 Simon Kuznets 1972 Sir John R. Hicks Kenneth J. early in their careers, a remarkable and unmatched feat. We also provide credible information and support for patients and their families twenty-four hours a day with our toll-free number and website, advocate for laws and funding to protect the interests of cancer patients, and offer community programs and services for those affected by cancer. We all want to do better, but the facts today belie be·lie tr.v. be·lied, be·ly·ing, be·lies 1. To picture falsely; misrepresent: "He spoke roughly in order to belie his air of gentility" James Joyce. Epstein's cynical view. Successes in early detection, cancer prevention, and lifesaving treatments have led to remarkable gains. Mortality rates are now decreasing for the four major cancer sites in men and women: lung, breast, colon, and prostate--with the exception of lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. in women, which has now stabilized for the first time after decades of increase. The American Cancer Society has played a role in virtually every major cancer advance in the last fifty years. We are proud to see that advances in early detection, such as mammography mammography, diagnostic procedure that uses low-dose X rays to detect abnormalities in the breasts. The early diagnosis of breast cancer made possible by the routine use of mammography for screening women increases a woman's treatment alternatives and improves her , and treatment have led American women now to have a lower chance of dying of breast cancer today than at any time since at least 1930. The American Cancer Society is proud to have been involved in these successes, and we will continue to be there. Environmental contamination of our air and water is a serious problem that deserves our attention based on sound information. Spreading half truths is of little help in making our environment clean for generations to come, or in the fight against cancer. Stephen F. Sener, M.D. President American Cancer Society |
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