Raising Cancer Awareness Together: National and Local Efforts

You may have noticed that the ACS is working to have a bigger impact in promoting national cancer awareness months in the media to drive home the critical message that screening saves lives. For example, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Katharine Yao, MD, FACS, and Scott Kurtzman, MD, FACS, were featured as part of a radio news tour to promote Breast Cancer Screening which reached more than 1,300 radio stations across the country and generated more than 34 million impressions. 

During Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, Timothy Mullett, MD, MBA, FACS, and Daniel Boffa, MD, FACS, conducted broadcast interviews highlighting how lung cancer screening has evolved and is more important than ever in detecting this disease. Their television and radio interviews were featured on about 360 radio and television stations across the nation garnering more than 9.97 million impressions. In addition, we placed an informational column from Dr. Mullett in more than 1,000 publications across America. The column,  “What everyone should know about lung cancer screening,” was viewed by millions on online news sites stretching from San Francisco to Miami to New York and hundreds of cities in between.

Given these major success stories, plans are underway to continue with this strategy for several major cancer awareness months over the course of the next year. We hope to coordinate with the local efforts promoted by accredited programs so we can increase the reach of these important messages on prevention and early detection. We know that when these messages get through, they can save lives.   You will hear more about these activities in the coming months, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, thank you for all you are doing to raise awareness in your local community and state.