American Cancer Society Gives Up On Health Promotion Ads In Favor Of Efforts To Seek Insurance Coverage For Cancer Care

Frustrated that its efforts have not lowered cancer rates, the American Cancer Society has replaced its traditional call for Americans to stop smoking and get screened for colon cancer to an advertising campaign that promotes adequate health insurance coverage for cancer treatment.

Does this signal the cancer care industry has given up on efforts to prevent cancer? While it is said that smoking and poor diets are responsible for a great deal of cancer, the ACS is now embarking on a different road.

A spokesperson for the ACS said that “lack of access will be a bigger cancer killer than tobacco.” Of course, such a statement assumes cancer treatment prolongs life, which has not been shown over the past 30+ years. Cancer rates have dropped in the past decade due to reduction in the number of smokers and women backing away from hormone replacement therapy, not from any advancement in treatment. The American Cancer Society has had little or no impact upon these changes.

A news report says “studies have shown that the rates would fall faster if more patients were diagnosed at early stages. And new research is confirming that insurance status often determines whether a patient is diagnosed early or late.” This is a total falsehood. Earlier diagnosis simply gives the impression cancer patients are living longer. Patients are still dying on the same calendar day. Furthermore, Americans without insurance coverage still have access to cancer care and some studies even show that delays in diagnosis and treatment actually result in prolonged survival compared to early detection and treatment. – Copyright 2007 Bill Sardi