| Human Profile | |
| Name: | American Cancer Society, Inc. |
| Founded: | May 22, 1913, New York City, New York |
| CEO: | Shane Jacobson |
| Subscribers: | 34.4K |
| Views: | 30,490,167 |
| YouTube Revenue: | $30.5K - $152.5K |
| Videos: | 1121 |
| Channel Created: | May 2007 |
Overview
American Cancer Society, Inc. is a United States-based nationwide non-profit health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer through medical research funding, patient support services, and public health advocacy.
Latest News (Apr 2, 2026): The American Cancer Society recently published new information exploring the potential effects of GLP-1 medicines on cancer risk. Additionally, the organization continues to feature survivor stories and expert insights through its Cancer Connections platform to provide guidance and support to those impacted by cancer.
Formation and background
The American Cancer Society, Inc. was founded on May 22, 1913, by a group of ten physicians and five laypeople in New York City. Originally named the American Society for the Control of Cancer (ASCC), its creation was a response to a time when a cancer diagnosis was often seen as a death sentence, and the disease was shrouded in fear and public denial. The founders recognized that raising public awareness was crucial to making progress against the disease.
Early development
In its initial years, the ASCC focused on educating the public and medical professionals. The organization began writing articles for popular magazines and professional journals to demystify cancer. They also published a monthly bulletin called Campaign Notes and recruited doctors across the country to help with public education efforts. In 1928, a nationwide poster contest resulted in the selection of the “Sword of Hope” symbol, which remains a part of the organization’s logo. The sword was chosen to represent the “crusading spirit of the cancer control movement,” with the handle’s twin-serpent caduceus symbolizing the medical and scientific nature of their work.
A significant development in the organization’s early outreach was the formation of the Women’s Field Army in 1936. Suggested by Marjorie G. Illig, an ASCC field representative, this volunteer force went into communities to educate people about cancer and the importance of funding and research. This initiative dramatically increased the number of people involved in cancer control.
Growth and major milestones
In 1945, the ASCC underwent a reorganization and officially changed its name to the American Cancer Society, Inc. A pivotal moment came in 1946 when philanthropist Mary Lasker and her colleagues helped raise over $4 million for the Society, with $1 million allocated to establish a groundbreaking research program. Since 1946, the organization has invested more than $5 billion in cancer research.
Key milestones in the organization’s history include:
- 1947: The launch of the “Cancer Signals” campaign to educate the public about the signs and symptoms of cancer. Also in this year, an ACS-funded researcher, Sidney Farber, MD, discovered the first successful chemotherapy treatment.
- 1954: An ACS study confirmed the link between smoking and lung cancer.
- 1971: The organization played a leading role in the passage of the National Cancer Act, which significantly increased federal funding for cancer research.
- 1985: The first Relay For Life event was held, which has since become a major global fundraising movement.
- 2001: The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) was founded to advocate for public policy changes to fight cancer.
Main work/content/products
The American Cancer Society, Inc. is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. Its work encompasses several key areas:
- Research: It is the largest private, non-profit funder of cancer research in the U.S. and has funded 53 Nobel Prize-winning researchers. The research program includes extramural grants for external researchers, intramural epidemiology and surveillance research, and behavioral research. Priority research areas include the causes of cancer, the role of obesity and healthy living, screening and diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
- Patient Support: The organization provides a wide range of services for patients and their families, including a 24/7 cancer helpline, free transportation to treatment, and lodging through its Hope Lodge communities.
- Advocacy: Through its affiliate, ACS CAN, the organization works to influence public policy at all levels of government to support cancer prevention, research, and patient care.
- Public Education and Prevention: The society publishes cancer screening guidelines and provides information on cancer prevention, causes, and risk factors.
The organization maintains a YouTube channel, “American Cancer Society, Inc.,” which serves as an extension of its educational and supportive mission. The channel features a variety of content, including information on cancer prevention, screening, and treatment options. Videos often feature medical professionals explaining topics such as cancer risk factors, the importance of early detection, and what to expect during medical procedures like biopsies and scans. The channel also shares personal stories from cancer survivors and caregivers, highlighting the human side of the cancer experience and the importance of a strong support network.
Impact and legacy
The work of the American Cancer Society, Inc. has been credited with contributing to significant progress in the fight against cancer. The organization states its efforts have played a role in a 33% decline in the overall cancer death rate in the United States since 1991, which equates to 3.8 million fewer cancer deaths.
Researchers funded by the society have been involved in nearly every major cancer research breakthrough, including establishing the link between smoking and cancer, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Pap test and mammography, and developing cancer-fighting drugs. The organization’s advocacy efforts have also led to increased federal funding for cancer research. Through its extensive volunteer network and community-based programs like Relay For Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, the American Cancer Society, Inc. has mobilized millions of people worldwide in the effort to combat cancer.