We value your donations. Each and every dollar makes a difference in saving lives. Here is a comprehensive list about exactly what the American Cancer Society is doing to find a cure for cancer. The American Cancer Society also has many ties to the University of Georgia. Please read for more information.

Research

Since our Research Program began in 1946, the ACS has devoted about $3.4 billion to cancer research. By funding groundbreaking research, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has contributed to many important discoveries that have led to a better understanding of cancer and cancer treatment.

The Society is justly proud of the 42 investigators we supported before they went on to win the Nobel Prize, considered the highest accolade any scientist can receive. This is a tribute to the American Cancer Society's Research Program and the strength of its peer-review process.

We have awarded over $2 million in Research Grants to researchers at UGA for the following and for the following amount:
Wood, Zachary A., PhD
University of Georgia
Structural and Biochemical Studies of Nucleotide Sugar Biosynthesis
$720,000.00

Dougan, Scott T., PhD
University of Georgia
The Role of Nodal-Related Genes in
Embryonic Development in Zebrafish
$707,000.00

Zhao, Shaying, PhD
University of Georgia
Identification of Bona Fide Colorectal
Tumorigenesis Events and Genes
$800,000.00

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Because cancer takes a toll on the person diagnosed as well as family and friends, the American Cancer Society offers support and service programs to try to lessen the impact. These programs cover a wide range of needs--from connecting patients with survivors to providing a place to stay when treatment facilities are far from home. All programs are available free of charge.   

ACS is Here for You 24-7
The American Cancer Society’s 1.800.ACS.2345 phone number is a service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer calls from cancer patients, and their families and friends.  Trained Cancer Information Specialists can answer questions over the phone and if you wish, you may have an information packet e-mailed or mailed to you.  Packets are sent within one business day.  Spanish-speaking callers are assisted by an internal team of bilingual Cancer Information Specialists, who also assist callers in other languages through the use of a language line.  People calling 1.800.ACS.2345 can also learn about American Cancer Society events, such as Relay For Life, and cancer education programs in your community.   

A Place of Caring - The Hope Lodge
Cancer treatment is often a long and emotional experience.  Meeting the medical needs of cancer patients is only part of the cancer journey.  Hope Lodge is there to help.  Hope Lodge is a “home away from home” made available at no cost to patients undergoing active outpatient treatment for cancer far from home.  Guests are admitted on a “first come, first serve” basis. Each guest has a private bedroom and bath and can enjoy the optional indoor and outdoor private areas or group settings such as dining and living areas.  The South Atlantic Division has Hope Lodges located in Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD, Charleston, SC, and Greenville, NC.   

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Free Personalized Nutrition Counseling for Cancer Patients
Cancer treatment can often bring on side effects like nausea, weight loss or gain, fluctuating appetite, and various eating difficulties.  Nutrition plans can help with these side effects and improve patients' quality of life.  Through the American Cancer Society’s Dietician On Call service, a registered dietician will talk with you to provide suggestions for your unique needs and when appropriate, work with the patients’ families and medical teams.  Cancer patients can access the free program by calling 1.888.227.6333.  

Read and Share Stories of Hope on the Cancer Survivors Network
The Cancer Survivors Network is an online community created by and for survivors and caregivers as a way to cope with the challenges and emotions that living with cancer can bring.  It allows patients and caregivers the opportunity to find strength through a shared experience.  The Cancer Survivors Network is accessible 24 hours a day at www.cancer.org.  Patients, as well as family and caregivers, will find personal stories, “chat rooms,” cancer information, community resources and more. Registered users can create their own Web page.  

 Clinical Trials Patient Matching Service
The Clinical Trials Patient Matching Service is a new resource giving cancer patients, their families and friends, and health care providers an easier, quicker, and more effective way to find out about clinical trials and gain access to trials that best meet their medical and personal needs. By gathering information from the patients, the service will compile a list of trials the individual patient is eligible for and contact information for those trial sites.  The service will cut down on the work the patient has to do to find potentially lifesaving treatment.  By helping more patients find and enroll in clinical trials, this program will also help speed the progress of discovery and approval of new approaches to defeat cancer. Interested patients can call 1.800.ACS.2345 or visit www.cancer.org. By calling the 800-number, cancer patients will be referred to the service by the NCIC Cancer Information Specialists. NCIC Clinical Trial Information Specialists will enter the patient’s clinical data into the matching application just like those who access the service via the Internet.  

Look Good…Feel Better is a free ACS program that teaches beauty techniques to female cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment.  Once a month, Look Good…Feel Better sessions are held locally at the Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support.  Patients must register in advance by calling 706.475.4900.

Freshstart - Smoking Cessation Program
Provided by Athens Regional Medical Center’s Health Education Department on a quarterly basis. 
The American Cancer Society’s Freshstart program contains all of the elements that have been found to be meaningful in helping smokers to stop and stay off cigarettes; the program addresses the behaviors, thoughts, and feelings of the smoker.  The program makes use of group interaction to encourage and support change, but it does not foster group dependency among the participants.  If you would like more information about Freshstart, please contact Ashley Morrow at 706.549.4893.

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Road to Recovery is a service offered by the American Cancer Society in which volunteer drivers provide cancer patients transportation to and from their scheduled medical appointments.  Drivers donate their time and the use of their personal vehicles to help ensure that cancer patients get the lifesaving treatments they need.  Road to Recovery is a free service, however, advance notice is required.  To arrange transportation, patients must contact the American Cancer Society at 1.888.227.6333 as soon as they know they need a ride.  Road to Recovery is available on an "as needed" basis, after all other transportation options have been exhausted.  For more information about Road to Recovery, or to find out how you can become a Road to Recovery driver, contact you local ACS office at 706.549.4893. 

Reach to Recovery
Reach to Recovery is an ACS program in which trained volunteer breast cancer survivors provide peer-to-peer support and information to others experiencing or concerned about breast cancer.  To request the services of Reach to Recovery in the Athens area, a patient can call 1.800.227.2345.  The patient’s health care provider, family member, partner, or friend can also make the request.  There is never a charge for the services Reach to Recovery volunteer provide.

I Can Cope
I Can Cope is an educational program for people facing cancer – personally, or as a friend, family member, or caregiver.  Classes are available in the Athens area or online at www.cancer.org.  Please contact 1.800.227.2345 for more information.    

Online Worksite Subscription Program
The American Cancer Society is offering employers a subscription to receive informational packages at no cost.  The Health Communications subscription offers health packages, sent via e-mail that contains information about prevention and early detection of cancer (for example, prostate, breast, tobacco themed packages) to be delivered 5 – 6 times over the upcoming year.  The Cancer Resource Network Promotion subscription includes promotional materials that provide information and assistance to cancer patients and their caregivers by directing them to cancer support resources at local and national levels through the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Resource Network.  Please contact Ashley Morrow at 706.549.4893 for more information.

General information you should know about Cancer Prevention
Our bodies are our temples and knowing the facts about cancer can help us take care of them. With both prevention and early detection information, you can take an active role in how cancer affects you and your family. Primary cancer prevention means taking the necessary precautions to prevent cancer. The American Cancer Society offers information to help adults and children make healthy lifestyle choices and prevent cancer by:     
  • Cutting out tobacco           
  • Exercising regularly            
  • Reducing your fat intake          
  • Limiting alcohol consumption          
  • Eating more fruits and vegetables            
  • Visiting your doctor regularly for medical check-ups and recommended cancer screenings          
  • Protecting yourself from the sun  
In addition to taking proactive steps to help prevent the disease, it’s important to know how cancer is found and what screening options are available and appropriate. Finding cancer in the earliest stage possible gives the patient the greatest chance of survival. For this reason, the Society seeks to provide the public and health care professionals with the latest cancer resources to help them make informed decisions. Through national conferences and workshops, audiovisual and print publications, www.cancer.org, and the National Cancer Information Center (1.800.ACS.2345), the Society works hard to reach everyone with this lifesaving information. 

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Scholarships

In 2009, ACS awarded 68 College Scholarships to students residing in Georgia. 8 of these students attend the University of Georgia.

The program is open to any survivor of childhood cancer who will attend an accredited two- or four-year institution, was diagnosed before the age of 19, and is currently age 25 or under. Applicants must be legal residents of one of the states within our Division or the District of Columbia. Students may obtain applications by calling
1-800-ACS-2345 after January 1, 2010.

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Thank you again for all that you do to support your American Cancer Society!

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