A Battle Plan for the New War on Cancer

There are 12 million Americans living with cancer today. This year alone, 1.4 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer, and 560,000 will lose their lives to the disease. Cancer is a public health crisis that touches every American and costs our economy more than $400 billion per year.

In October 2007, Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006) and President of the non-profit Canyon Ranch Institute, brought together the former Surgeons General of the United States to address national and global public health issues. At the request of LAF Chairman and Founder Lance Armstrong, four former United States Surgeons General collaborated with the cancer prevention and survivorship community to develop the National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship.

Engaging All Sectors of Society to Save Millions of Lives

From prevention through survivorship, there are evidence-based, actionable steps that every American can take to reduce his or her risk of developing cancer and to improve the quality of life after for all cancer survivors. The National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship addresses these challenges and presents solutions to stimulate action across all sectors of society in the fight against cancer.

Similar to previous Surgeon General Calls to Action, this National Call to Action is supported by specific action steps that health professionals, business leaders, educators, policymakers, government leaders and the general public can use to improve cancer prevention and survivorship for all people. We all have a role to play in advancing this call nationwide and this National Call to Action is the charge given to us by the Nation’s top doctors.

Read the complete National Call to Action for Cancer Prevention and Survivorship.