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Two former ACS grantees among 2025 Lasker Award winners

​The Discovery Pillar is proud to highlight the Lasker Foundation's recent announcement of the 2025 Lasker Award winners in basic research, clinical research, special achievement, and public service. Two former ACS grantees were among this year's awardees.

  • Steven L. McKnight at the University of Texas Southwestern won the 2025 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award for his work on structures and functions of low-complexity domains (shared award with Dr. Dirk Görlich). This basic research uncovered unique properties of certain proteins that may contribute to certain disease pathologies. He held an ACS Faculty Research Award from 1984 to 1989 at the Carnegie Institute of Washington in Baltimore, MD.
  • Lucy Shapiro at Stanford University won the 2025 Lasker~Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science for her pioneering approach to bacterial cell biology and national leadership, sounding an early alarm on the emerging threat of antibiotic resistance. She received an early career grant from ACS from 1968 to 1976 at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and several additional ACS grants between 1988 and 1994 at Stanford. Dr. Shapiro has also been a mentor on at least four other ACS grants, including two postdoctoral fellows, extending her legacy.

The Lasker Awards program was created in 1945 by Albert and Mary Lasker to spotlight fundamental biological research discoveries and clinical advances that improve human health and to draw attention to the importance of public support of science. The Lasker Awards are among the highest honors given in science and often serve as a precursor to winning a Nobel Prize. The public service award is given every other year and will next be offered in 2026.

  • September Advocacy Update

    A message from ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse

    I'm thrilled to start this monthly update by noting that ACS CAN's Leadership Summit and Lobby Day (LS&LD) is less than two weeks away, from September 14 to 17. We are looking forward to welcoming nearly 750 advocates from across the country to Washington, D.C. for four days filled with training, celebrations and all-important advocacy in the fight against cancer.

    LS&LD brings together our nationwide volunteer network to strengthen our advocates' ability to influence lawmakers and deepen their understanding of ACS CAN's crucial federal policy priorities. It also builds momentum for ACS CAN's legislative agenda, culminating in Lobby Day, when volunteers will visit every office of every member of Congress to elevate our key asks.

    This year, our priorities include:

    • Supporting the highest possible funding increases for cancer research and prevention in the FY26 funding bill:
      - $51.3 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including $7.934 billion for cancer research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
      - $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H)
      - $472.4 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cancer programs, including $230 million for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
    • Supporting final passage of the bipartisan, bicameral Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 842/S. 339)
    • Advocating for a pathway to extend the Affordable Care Act's enhanced health care tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of 2025. These credits currently make health insurance more affordable for millions of Americans.

    LS&LD kicks off on Sunday, September 14, offering participants the chance to explore Affinity Row, a gathering that celebrates the impact of ACS CAN volunteer groups across communities and builds connections between advocates. This year, we're introducing a self-care workshop, "Practical Strategies for Tending to Self in Advocacy," along with a rejuvenation space for attendees to relax and recharge. On Sunday evening, we will proudly honor outstanding volunteers and colleagues at the National Advocacy Leadership Awards Dinner.

    Monday features our Leadership Summit, a full day of keynotes, general sessions and breakout workshops to prepare advocates for Hill visits. That evening, we'll gather for the CAN Opener, our annual dinner and dancing fundraiser. If you haven't purchased your ticket yet, you can do so here.

    Tuesday is Lobby Day, a prime opportunity for our volunteers to make an impact on the Hill. Hundreds of attendees will head to offices to meet with lawmakers and elevate our cancer priorities. In addition to Hill meetings, we will gather for a powerful event, "Patients Coming Together to Protect Cancer Cures," where advocates will urge Congress to prioritize sustained federal investment in lifesaving cancer research and prevention.

    On Tuesday evening, we'll gather at Constitution Gardens on the National Mall for our Lights of Hope ceremony, honoring and remembering loved ones impacted by cancer.

    During LS&LD, ACS CAN will also recognize a select group of lawmakers for their exceptional contributions to the fight against cancer. These honorees have shown outstanding leadership in advancing cancer-related public policy, expanding access to care and supporting research and prevention efforts. The National Distinguished Advocacy Award, ACS CAN's most prestigious honor, will be awarded to:

    • Representative Diana DeGette (D–CO) 
    • Senator Thom Tillis (R–NC) 
    • Montana State Senator Willis Curdy (D–MT) 
    • New Jersey State Senator Troy Singleton (D–NJ) 

    I invite you to follow along and amplify the event on social media using #CancerLobbyDay and #LightsOfHope. I look forward to sharing highlights in a Special Edition Advocacy Update and to seeing all who are attending in D.C. very soon.

    Thank you for your relentless advocacy!
    Lisa

    Exciting News for Lobby Day!

    ACS CAN is launching a powerful new website that highlights the personal stories of those impacted by cancer research and the consequences of funding cuts. Please be on the lookout for its release across ACS CAN social media channels next week.

    To amplify our message during Lobby Day, ACS CAN will also feature a prominent ad in The Washington Post and deploy a mobile billboard around Capitol Hill. The message to Congress is clear and urgent: Fund Research. Fund Cures. Fight Cancer.

    If you know of someone who has been impacted by recent cuts to cancer research (for example, a researcher who lost their NCI funding or a patient whose clinical trial was paused), please encourage them to share their story by completing this form.

    Federal Updates

    In July, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version of the FY2026 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) spending bill. The bill includes increases for cancer research at NIH and NCI. It also funds ARPA-H and CDC cancer prevention programs at the same level as this year. Specifically, the House bill includes $48.7 billion for NIH, a $400 million increase from FY2025 levels, including $7.374 billion for the NCI, a $150 million increase over FY2025 levels.

    Just this week, the House Appropriations Subcommittee released its Labor-HHS spending bill, which proposes to fund the NIH at $48 billion, which is a slight decrease from FY25 funding, but includes $7.272 billion for the NCI, which is a $48 million increase over last year's funding bill.

    However, the House bill also includes a $450 million cut in disease prevention programming from the CDC, elimination of $247 million for Tobacco Prevention and Control, and a $555 million cut for ARPA-H.

    The current fiscal year ends on September 30, and members of Congress have until then to extend the current funding levels or develop new ones.

    ACS CAN recently joined more than 100 organizations in sending a letter to Congress in strong support of the Clinical Trial Modernization Act (H.R. 3521), introduced in May 2025 by Reps. Raul Ruiz (D-CA) and August Pfluger (R-FL).

    This bipartisan legislation aims to remove key barriers that prevent patients from participating in clinical trials, including out-of-pocket costs and the burden of traveling long distances to trial sites. These challenges are among the most common reasons why patients, especially those in rural or underserved communities, are unable to access potentially lifesaving clinical research.

    Clinical trials are vital to advancing new cancer treatments and improving outcomes for people facing serious and life-threatening illnesses. By addressing financial and geographic obstacles, this bill would help make clinical trials more accessible, equitable and inclusive.

    ACS CAN and our partners are urging Congress to pass this critical legislation to ensure that all patients have the opportunity to benefit from the latest advancements in care.

    Read our full release.

    Judicial Updates

    States have recently brought lawsuits against the administration in areas that affect the ACS CAN mission. ACS CAN engaged by filing amicus curiae or "friend of the court" briefs in two of those cases in August.

    • New York v. Kennedy – 20 states and D.C. sued the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and sub-agencies after the March 27 Directive resulted in major reductions in force (RIFs), cutting more than 10,000 jobs as part of a major restructuring that will impact operations at the CDC, NIH, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The states claim they are losing critical services due to the cuts, and a U.S. district judge put the RIFs on hold. The administration is appealing this decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on an emergency basis. ACS CAN and other public health groups' amicus provided background to the court on the devastating effects of tobacco products on health, how the challenged restructuring defies the agency's statutory obligations to prevent tobacco-related disease and mortality, and why the RIFs are "arbitrary and capricious" in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, with emphasis on the work of the Office of Smoking (OSH) at CDC and the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) at FDA.
    • California et al v. Kennedy – Our amicus brief opposed the new Market Place Integrity Rule which changes regulations implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in a manner that will result in loss of insurance coverage for at least 1.8 million people. Our brief provided scientific studies demonstrating how access to comprehensive, affordable health insurance saves lives, as well as providing profiles of individual patients who would lose coverage under the new rule.

    Policy Update

    A new ACS CAN study revealed that while pharmacogenomic testing can help tailor cancer treatment to individual patients, many are not receiving these potentially lifesaving tests. The findings underscore the need for policy solutions that ensure equitable access to precision medicine. This research was part of ACS CAN's Survivor Views program, which elevates the voices of patients with cancer.

    State Updates

    The ACS CAN Pennsylvania team hosted a press conference in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, bringing together cancer survivors, researchers and representatives from each of the comprehensive cancer centers in the state to call on Congress to fund progress and protect cancer cures. The press conference received prominent media attention.

    In Case You Missed It

    Lights of Hope 2025 fundraisers have been hard at work around the country. For those new to ACS CAN, each Light of Hope represents a loved one's cancer story—a survivor, someone in treatment, someone who passed from cancer, or a cancer caregiver. This event serves as a visual reminder to all elected officials of the strength of our collective voice and our role in the fight against cancer, as well as a critical fundraiser for ACS CAN's public policy advocacy agenda. We are grateful to every volunteer participating!

    You can still get involved by raising funds and donating to Lights of Hope.

    Advocacy In the News

    • AP News: Researchers forecast what Trump's bill will mean for patients: Debt and delayed care
    • U.S. News & World Report: Weather Disasters Pose Immediate Threat To U.S. Drug Supply
    • Roll Call: Budget maneuvers expected to reduce NIH funding opportunities
    • The Lancet: Concerns over future of U.S. health advisory panel under RFK Jr
    • Cancer Health: Billboards Send Clear Message About Cancer Research Funding
    • Portland Press Herald: Maine must reject cuts to lifesaving cancer research – Opinion (Lisa Lacasse)
    • KYW NewsRadio: Philly cancer survivors and advocates rally for continued cancer research funding amid proposed federal cuts
    • WBRC: Billboards Push to Keep Funding
    • Good Morning Las Vegas: Precision Medicine Changing the Fight Against Cancer

  • ACS NLCRT publishes new practical strategies guidebook

    Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., yet lung cancer screening continues to be underutilized. Primary care providers are the backbone of effective screening programs. They’re often the first touchpoint for patients who may be eligible for screening and play a central role in detecting lung cancer early, when it’s more likely to be treated successfully.

    To help strengthen this critical link in the care continuum, the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable (ACS NLCRT) released its latest resource, Steps for Increasing Lung Cancer Screening: A Guide for Primary Care Practices.

    This evidence-based, expert-endorsed guide offers practical strategies to help primary care teams strengthen their lung cancer screening efforts. It’s designed to support clinical workflows by addressing common barriers like unclear eligibility, shared decision-making, and follow-up care. The guide walks teams through key steps to:

    • Identify eligible patients using tobacco history documentation.

    • Choose the lung cancer screening model that best fits their practice.

    • Review and refine workflows for shared decision-making, tobacco cessation, and patient education.

    • Use stigma-free, patient-centered language in conversations about lung cancer screening.

    • Navigate insurance, referrals, and incidental findings to get patients screened.

    • Track and improve screening efforts with reminders and performance metrics.

    Sharing the Steps Guide is a great opportunity to spark conversations with  health systems and clinical partners about improving lung cancer screening efforts and to inspire new approaches in ongoing initiatives. 

    Background

    The ACS roundtables are a recommended and proven model for creating sustained partnerships across diverse sectors and communities to address the most complex problems across the cancer continuum collaboratively. ACS provides organizational leadership and expertise to support the roundtables and their members in their efforts to further a shared vision of giving all people an equal opportunity to prevent and survive cancer.

  • Final recipient named for first VOICES of Black Women partnership grants

    This month, 10 community-based organizations will begin their work as the first-ever recipients of the ACS VOICES of Black Women Community Partnership Program. The organizations were selected from 31 applications to receive $10,000 each to strengthen recruitment efforts for the ACS VOICES of Black Women cohort study.

    The funded projects, which will run through March 2, 2026, will leverage trusted community networks to raise awareness about the study and encourage eligible women to participate. Selected partners are organizations whose missions align with improving the health and wellness of Black women and their families.

    • BLKHLTH (Georgia)

    • Boston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Massachusetts)

    • Byrd Cancer Education and Advocacy Foundation (Pennsylvania)

    • Central Carolina Black Nurses Council, Inc. (North Carolina)

    • Cierra Sisters (Washington)

    • Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church (Pennsylvania)

    • Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Health Connections Inc. (Wisconsin)

    • My Style Matters, Inc. (Georgia)

    • National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer II Houston (Texas)

    • New Jersey Black Women Physicians Association (New Jersey)​

    Each organization will use culturally responsive outreach strategies rooted in Black women's lived experiences ─ building trust, promoting connection, and amplifying personal narratives. Examples include immersive wellness retreats with VOICES storytelling circles, personalized navigation to assist with enrollment, and narrative-based community events featuring short films, holistic wellness activities, and collective reflection.​

  • Fall 2024 grant slate begins this month

    The American Cancer Society is proud to announce $43.2 million in funding for 92 new research grant awards to 69 institutions nationwide. These grants, awarded through the fall 2024 cycle, reflect our continued commitment to advancing cancer discovery and supporting researchers at every stage of their careers. Most new awards will begin on Sept. 1, or shortly thereafter.

    The new funding slate spans eight standard grant mechanisms, including separate awards for Mentored Research Grants, Professorships, and Professor Renewals. This cycle features four new ACS Professors and five renewed Professorships, underscoring ACS’ investment in leadership and long-term impact in the cancer research community.

    Also included are four awards totaling $1.58 million through the ACS IMPACT – Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Expansion Grants (IMPACT-PCEGs). These awards, announced in response to a September 2024 request for applications, are designed to expand access to clinical trials and accelerate progress for patients with prostate cancer.

    While many of the new projects address non-site-specific cancer topics, breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers emerged as the most studied cancer types in this cycle, together accounting for nearly one-third of total funding (14%, 9%, and 9%, respectively). Importantly, these distributions reflect the strongest proposals received, as ACS does not prioritize funding by cancer type except when designated through specific RFAs.

    Funding also spans the cancer continuum, with 41% supporting basic research, 21% focused on treatment, and 13% dedicated to improving cancer screening, detection, diagnosis, and prognosis. Together, these investments strengthen the foundation for future prevention, care, and survivorship breakthroughs.

    This grant slate was made possible through the expertise and dedication of 637 volunteer reviewers across 21 peer review committees. Their careful evaluations ensure that ACS continues to fund the most innovative, impactful science.

    ACS remains committed to nurturing the next generation of cancer researchers while also recognizing established leaders. By supporting investigators across career stages, we help fuel discoveries that drive progress against cancer in all its forms. The fall 2024 slate reflects both the promise of early-career researchers and the enduring influence of senior leaders whose work is shaping the field.

    To learn more, visit research news on cancer.org.​​

  • ACS releases new Prostate Cancer Statistics report

    ACS has released​ Prostate Cancer Statistics, 2025, a report on current prostate cancer occurrence and outcomes in the United States. According to the study, prostate cancer incidence rates have reversed from a decline of 6.4% per year during 2007 through 2014 to an increase of 3.0% annually during 2014 through 2021, with the steepest increase (4.6%-4.8% per year) for advanced-stage diagnoses. Simultaneously, mortality declines slowed from 3%-4% per year during the 1990s and 2000s to 0.6% per year over the past decade. These major findings are to be published in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the flagship journal of ACS.

    The report also shows wide disparities. Despite steep declines, mortality rates for prostate cancer are two times higher for Black men compared to White men, versus 67% higher incidence rates. Likewise, Native American men have 12% higher prostate cancer mortality than White men, despite 13% lower incidence.

    “Our research highlighting the continued increases in prostate cancer incidence and persistent racial disparities underscores the need for redoubled efforts to understand the etiology of prostate cancer and optimize early detection," said Tyler Kratzer, MPH, associate scientist, cancer surveillance research, and lead author of the study. “At age 50, per ACS guidelines, all men should have a conversation with their healthcare provider about the benefits and harms of screening, but Black men and those with a family history of prostate cancer should have that conversation at age 45."

    Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among men in the US, accounting for 30% of male cancers in 2025, and is the second leading cancer death in men behind lung cancer. This year, ACS estimates there will be 313,780 new cases of prostate cancer and 35,770 deaths. For the report, researchers analyzed population-based cancer incidence data through 2021 and mortality data through 2023 collected by the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    According to study authors, distant‐stage disease is increasing in men of every age, including by nearly 3% per year in those younger than 55 years and 6% per year in men 55 years and older. The five-year relative survival rate for distant-stage prostate cancer is only 38%, but approaches 100% for earlier-stage diagnoses.

    Other key findings from the report include:

    • American Indian and Alaska Native men are the most likely to be diagnosed with distant stage disease (12% versus 8% among White men).
    • Prostate cancer mortality ranges from 36.9 deaths per 100,000 among Black men to 8.8 among Asian American and Pacific Islander men. American Indian and Alaska Native men have the second-highest mortality rates (20.6), with White (18.4) and Hispanic (15.4) men ranking 3rd and 4th among broadly defined racial and ethnic groups.
    • Prostate cancer mortality varies by state, with the highest death rates in Washington D.C. (27.5 deaths per 100,000) and Mississippi (24.8 deaths per 100,000), which have a high proportion of Black residents.

    “Our report underscores the need to redouble efforts to optimize early diagnosis that minimizes over-detection and also to ensure those strategies reach Black and Native American communities in particular," said Rebecca Siegel, MPH, senior scientific director, cancer surveillance research and senior author of the report. “All men should have the same opportunity to survive this common cancer."

    ACS CAN supports the Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men (PSA Screening for HIM) Act, federal legislation that would waive cost-sharing requirements such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance for prostate cancer screening tests for men with the highest risk of prostate cancer.

    “Out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays can be a barrier to accessing early detection," said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “No one should be at a disadvantage against cancer. The PSA Screening for HIM Act will help remove a major obstacle that can prevent those at high risk for the disease from getting the screening tests they need to find prostate cancer at the earliest, most treatable stage. We urge the House and the Senate to pass this legislation to help reduce prostate cancer disparities and save more lives."

    Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Natalia Mazzitelli, MPH, Jessica Star, MPH, Dr. William Dahut, and Dr. Ahmedin Jemal.

    Additional ACS Resources:

  • Fetching smiles, one wag at a time

    In conjunction with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Dog Therapy Awareness Month, ACS is excited to award 15 grantees $10,000 each as part of the ACS Pups Assisting with Support (PAWS) facility dog program. The program aims to expand access to specially trained facility dogs in pediatric oncology settings to improve the lives of children and teens with cancer, along with their families and care teams. Grant recipients must use the funds to launch a facility dog program or sustain and enhance an existing one. Funds may be used for expenses such as veterinary care, grooming, acquisition of a new facility dog, tools to enhance animal-assisted therapy visits, training for facility dog handlers, improving or maintaining dog facilities like respite areas, and more.

    The third cohort of ACS PAWS includes four previous grantees (indicated with an asterisk). The 2025 – 2026 ACS PAWS grantees are:

    • Beacon Health System, South Bend, IN

    • Children’s Hospital of Orange County*, Orange, CA

    • Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY

    • Children’s National Medical Center*, Washington, D.C.

    • Huntsville Hospital Health System, Huntsville, AL

    • James & Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center, Greenville, NC

    • Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital*, St. Petersburg, FL

    • M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, Minneapolis, MN

    • MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, Long Beach, CA

    • Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando, FL

    • Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, San Diego, CA

    • Shawn Jenkin’s Children’s Hospital, Charleston, SC

    • UNC Health, NC Basnight Cancer Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC

    • University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, IA

    • University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics*, Madison, WI

    The third cohort will begin on Monday, Sept.1, 2025, and will end on Aug. 31, 2026. Applications for the fourth cohort of ACS PAWS grants will open in Feb. 2026.

    Animal-assisted therapy for hospitalized children has been shown to decrease symptoms like anxiety, stress, depression, and pain, and increase quality of life indicators like feelings of joy and calmness, positive memories from hospitalization, and improved sense of well-being. Animal-assisted therapy has also been shown to decrease parenting stress and is considered a safe and desirable intervention for children with cancer.

    Since 2023, ACS PAWS has supported hospitals in providing more than 16,400 facility dog visits to children and teens with cancer, equating to over 6,600 hours of joy for patients and families.

    Learn more about supporting children through cancer treatment at cancer.org.

    (Pictured above, a PAWS facility dog working with the program earlier this year.​)

  • Two new ACS studies report surge in colorectal cancer screening and early diagnosis in US adults 45-49

    In a new study led by ACS, scientists found that after a stable 15-year trend, diagnoses of local-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) rose steeply in adults aged 45-49 years old during 2019 to 2022 in the United States, including a 50% relative increase from 2021 to 2022 (from 11.7 to 17.5 cases per 100,000). Local or early stage means the cancer is confined to the original site where it started and usually has no symptoms. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

     

    “These findings contrast with consistent increases of distant-stage diagnoses in this age group,” said Elizabeth Schafer, MPH, associate scientist, surveillance and health equity science, and lead author of the study. “It is promising news because the uptick of cases is likely due to first-time screening in the wake of new recommendations for younger average-risk adults to begin testing for colorectal cancer earlier.”

    The recommended age to begin CRC screening was lowered from 50 to 45 years by ACS in 2018 and the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in 2021.

    In support of these findings, another ACS-led study, also published in JAMA, reports that CRC screening among U.S. adults 45-49 years of age increased by 62% from 2019 to 2023.

    “It’s not only thrilling to see the increase in colorectal cancer screening among younger adults, but also how it likely ties into rises in earlier stage diagnosis as noted in the other ACS led paper,” said Jessica Star, MPH, MA, associate scientist, cancer risk factors and screening surveillance research at ACS, and lead author of this study. “However, we still have a long way to go. Screening for colorectal cancer in ages 45-49 remains suboptimal and has not increased equitably by both educational attainment and insurance status.”

    “These studies further demonstrate the importance of people having access to comprehensive health insurance, which covers evidence-based preventive services,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “With more than 2 million people in America expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2025, it’s more important than ever to make sure that everyone can access necessary screenings. ACS CAN will continue to advocate at the state and federal level to expand access for all because it isn’t just good policy, it’s lifesaving.”

    Other ACS researchers contributing to these studies include senior authorsRebecca Siegel, MPH, and Dr. Priti Bandi, and co-authors Dr. Hyuna Sung, Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, and Dr. Robert Smith.

  • Unmet social needs linked to low trust in cancer information from health professionals

    In a new study led by ACS scientists found that unmet social needs of adults in the United States were associated with a substantial reduction in trust of cancer information from doctors and the healthcare system. Unmet social needs include insecurity in housing, food, and/or transportation access, which affect health and well-being. The study was published in the journal Psycho-Oncology.

    “Public trust in health authorities is so essential because it influences uptake of health recommendations like routine cancer screening and vaccination,” said Dr. Jordan Baeker Bispo, principal scientist, cancer disparity research at ACS, and lead author of the study. “Social inequality is an important driver of medical mistrust. These findings are important as we need to better understand this dynamic in the context of cancer information sharing and cancer control.”

     

    “Addressing social needs in the clinical setting may enhance patient trust in cancer messaging from providers,” Baeker Bispo added. “Many health systems have adopted social needs screening programs to help patients access the resources they need beyond the clinic walls. These programs could have a positive downstream impact on communication about cancer control by enhancing the trustworthiness of providers and health systems at large.” 

    “Evidence shows that patient navigation can bridge a number of gaps and address diverse needs across patient populations. When it comes to cancer care, patient navigation offers support to manage and traverse an often overwhelming and scary prognosis by increasing understanding of treatment options,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of ACS CAN.

    Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Jessica ​​Star, MPH, Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, and senior author Dr. Farhad Islami.
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