Mission:
To eliminate cancer as a major health problem by prevention, saving lives, and diminishing suffering, using research, education, advocacy, and service.

Background:
One of the oldest and largest voluntary health agencies in the United States, the American Cancer Society (ACS) was founded in 1913, an era when the disease was rarely mentioned in public and claimed 75,000 lives a year. This year in the United States, cancer is expected to claim about 564,830 lives, with nearly 1.4 million new cases diagnosed. ACS has grown to encompass thirteen state divisions, more than 3,400 local offices, and two million volunteers. Since its research program began in 1946, the society has funded thirty-eight Nobel Prize winners early in their careers and has spent approximately $3 billion on research. With an annual program budget exceeding $580 million, it also funds prevention, patient support, and detection/treatment initiatives.

Outstanding Web Features:
The prevention section of the ACS Web site contains many useful tools for preventing or reducing cancer risks, including some related to smoking cessation, diet, and the reduction of environmental risks. It also details ACS's school health initiatives and other prevention-related programs. In addition, the site addresses cancer-related rumors and myths and provides resources for verifying suspected misinformation found on the Internet or through e-mail communications.