American Cancer Society

Research, education, advocacy, and service: these are the four pillars of strength embodied by volunteers of the American Cancer Society’s South Jersey Region. Serving seven counties from Camden to Cape May, the South Jersey branch of this national voluntary health organization puts a strong emphasis on service to patients and their families – the care of the whole person.

Currently, close to 1,000 individuals from the South Jersey community volunteer their time to the American Cancer Society (ACS). This vast amount of participation speaks volumes to the strength of our community, outweighing the uncomfortable reminder of how many lives are affected by cancer each day.

Over the course of a lifetime, one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer. The widespread disease results from an uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. When the spread is not monitored or the spread is not controlled, those cells can result in death. Both internal and external factors can result in cancer. Some internal factors which spur cell abnormality are inherited mutations, hormones, immune conditions, and mutations that occur from metabolism. External factors include tobacco, chemicals, radiation, and infectious organisms. Treatment of cancer can involve surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormones, and immunotherapy.

Over two-thirds of all cancer deaths are preventable. The ACS works to educate individuals about lifestyle choices that reduce cancer risk and the early detection guidelines that can help to find cancers at the earliest possible stage, when there is the greatest chance for successful treatment.

With over 2 million national volunteers and $130 million in donations in 2006, ACS is an integral force in the fight against this powerful disease. The organization is the largest source of private, not-for-profit cancer research funds in the country, second only to the US government in total dollars spent. More than $45 million of ACS research grants are currently at work in New York and New Jersey.

The foundation for New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act, which went into effect in 2006, was a product of the ACS; ACS of South Jersey continues to work with casinos and other popular entertainment establishments to keep South Jersey night-life 100% smoke free.

Cancer Survivors Network – If you are a cancer survivor, or are assisting a loved one as they battle cancer, join the web-based community created for and by survivors at www.acscsn.org.

If you'd like to get involved, the annual Relay for Life event is a great way to get started. Relay For Life is a fun-filled overnight activity that mobilizes communities across the country to celebrate survivorship, remember those who lost their lives to cancer, and raise money for the fight against cancer. This is an American Cancer Society signature event. For information aboutyour local Relay for Life event, click .

For more information about the American Cancer Society or patient and family services, contact 1-800-ACS-2345 or go to www.cancer.org.

Photo courtesy of Brian Richards.

For more on local Organizations, visit our South Jersey Organizations page.

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Author: Alexis Aloi