ACS

some help
They did help a little when my dad needed more home care, helped pay a small amount, but I think I remember they wanted it back when he died from the estate. They do offer transportation here to and from appointments and treatments. I used this twice, I think some of the cost is absorbed by the dept. of human services though, not all ACs money. I know they offer free quit smoking classes and workshop type things, more education type stuff than actual help for people with cancer.
Pam

ACS
John,

Your local ACS will have a patient navigator that can get you hooked up with services. I'm not sure what all they offer but I do know they offer assistance getting to treatments, there is Hope Lodge for those that have to live more than 100 miles from home to get treatments, they fund some MAJOR canzer research, and supply millions of really crappy brocures. They help fund wig banks at some facilities and organize support groups. Look Good/Feel Better, early detection and prevention stuff. I'm not sure what else but I do a tremendous amount of work for them on a volunteer level, but we're in a really rural area and don't have many paid folks to do it. Just lots of us with canzer.

Kimby

Wow
John,

I must say for someone that says they never think about their cancer, you sure do post alot about it. Not being accusatory, I'm just saying. I've read some about your journey and lordy you've had a "good one" so far sir but you need to do some homework before you start threads like this. One that is questioning a really wonderful non-profit. Please define your definition of "hefty salary", NONE of my friends that work there resemble that but really wish they did.

Here is what I know about ACS (American Cancer Society) after over 5 years on this site, several Relays for Life, and an opportunity to watch some of their best at work and using their web site.

They fund this site and all the hardware, personnel, etc, etc that it takes to host a GLOBAL cancer support site like this. They do it for over 120 different types of cancer and support survivors, caregivers, friends, love ones, and anyone else that cares about someone dealing with cancer. Personally they have helped me learn how to save my own life.

They sponsor one of the most visible cancer awareness events, Relay for Life, yearly that is a surreal experience if you are a survivor. My first survival lap almost brought me to my knees, it was so moving. To be able to pull off the event so seamlessly in almost every city in the US is mindboggling to me as a manager of people and their "tasks". The only other event that comes close involves "pink" and don't make me go there but you do have to admit that with $$$ breast cancer survival rates have gone from 75% (all stages) to 90% in the last 10 years.

ACS has had to suck it up and help as much as they can and where they can the last 8 years or so given the prior administration's cancer research/etc significant budget cuts. They sponsor a yearly March on Washington to get the word back out there to our congress men and women. Nixon declared war on cancer in the 70s and while we are making some progress, I do not think it is anything close to where we should have given the money involved.

The books they have published are really good. I especially like the ones about how to talk about cancer with children whether it be about them or a parent and/or loved one and use them as gifts.

Colon Palooza 3 (April 2006) was in Austin, Tx, home of the CSN's (this site) support folks and the 1 800 "someone or me has cancer and I am freaked out" 800 number. They had us in for lunch and a tour and it was really cool. Lunch was particulary amazing as a group of 16 or so of us semi-colons talked about our experiences over a very casual lunch with employees that work 8 hours a day to make anyone dealing with cancer's life a little easier by answering the phone. We each told our stories and there is no doubt in my mind they "heard us", durn some of us cried. I did several times. Next we got to go out and listen to a few of the call ins they got LIVE. Being that it was April, there many calls about the Relays for Life but they were about so many other things, as you could imagine. I actually heard one man call in crying about his wife and the way they talked to him was amazing. He was making a to do list in less than 10 minutes. These very special angel voices that answer that phone are highly skilled and talented people and the thing that stuck with me since I met them, every single one had been "touched" by cancer in some way and that is why they worked there. It had absolutely NOTHING to do with money. Personally I'd rather they get the hefty salaries than so many of the greedy ones out there but like school teachers, cops, fireman, the military and so many other amazing individuals, it ain't gonna happen that way in the good ole USA anytime soon.

The amount of information you can get your hands on from this organization is admired globally. Given my successes thus far against the beast, I do get asked to talk it from time to time and am always amazed at the stats and info I CAN get my hands on with a few clicks. There are so many that dispel rumors if you'll only take the time to read them and I like that.

I hope this helps your information gathering. Let me know if I can help in any other way.

Lisa P.

scouty said:

Wow
John,

I must say for someone that says they never think about their cancer, you sure do post alot about it. Not being accusatory, I'm just saying. I've read some about your journey and lordy you've had a "good one" so far sir but you need to do some homework before you start threads like this. One that is questioning a really wonderful non-profit. Please define your definition of "hefty salary", NONE of my friends that work there resemble that but really wish they did.

Here is what I know about ACS (American Cancer Society) after over 5 years on this site, several Relays for Life, and an opportunity to watch some of their best at work and using their web site.

They fund this site and all the hardware, personnel, etc, etc that it takes to host a GLOBAL cancer support site like this. They do it for over 120 different types of cancer and support survivors, caregivers, friends, love ones, and anyone else that cares about someone dealing with cancer. Personally they have helped me learn how to save my own life.

They sponsor one of the most visible cancer awareness events, Relay for Life, yearly that is a surreal experience if you are a survivor. My first survival lap almost brought me to my knees, it was so moving. To be able to pull off the event so seamlessly in almost every city in the US is mindboggling to me as a manager of people and their "tasks". The only other event that comes close involves "pink" and don't make me go there but you do have to admit that with $$$ breast cancer survival rates have gone from 75% (all stages) to 90% in the last 10 years.

ACS has had to suck it up and help as much as they can and where they can the last 8 years or so given the prior administration's cancer research/etc significant budget cuts. They sponsor a yearly March on Washington to get the word back out there to our congress men and women. Nixon declared war on cancer in the 70s and while we are making some progress, I do not think it is anything close to where we should have given the money involved.

The books they have published are really good. I especially like the ones about how to talk about cancer with children whether it be about them or a parent and/or loved one and use them as gifts.

Colon Palooza 3 (April 2006) was in Austin, Tx, home of the CSN's (this site) support folks and the 1 800 "someone or me has cancer and I am freaked out" 800 number. They had us in for lunch and a tour and it was really cool. Lunch was particulary amazing as a group of 16 or so of us semi-colons talked about our experiences over a very casual lunch with employees that work 8 hours a day to make anyone dealing with cancer's life a little easier by answering the phone. We each told our stories and there is no doubt in my mind they "heard us", durn some of us cried. I did several times. Next we got to go out and listen to a few of the call ins they got LIVE. Being that it was April, there many calls about the Relays for Life but they were about so many other things, as you could imagine. I actually heard one man call in crying about his wife and the way they talked to him was amazing. He was making a to do list in less than 10 minutes. These very special angel voices that answer that phone are highly skilled and talented people and the thing that stuck with me since I met them, every single one had been "touched" by cancer in some way and that is why they worked there. It had absolutely NOTHING to do with money. Personally I'd rather they get the hefty salaries than so many of the greedy ones out there but like school teachers, cops, fireman, the military and so many other amazing individuals, it ain't gonna happen that way in the good ole USA anytime soon.

The amount of information you can get your hands on from this organization is admired globally. Given my successes thus far against the beast, I do get asked to talk it from time to time and am always amazed at the stats and info I CAN get my hands on with a few clicks. There are so many that dispel rumors if you'll only take the time to read them and I like that.

I hope this helps your information gathering. Let me know if I can help in any other way.

Lisa P.

Great!
Wow Lisa, what an informative post. It's nice to know that the monies are going to good causes. The cutbacks of the last 8 years has hit many organizations like this rather hard. Things look much brighter for the future with the current people in charge.
-phil

ACS
I've been invovlved in Relay for Life for many years, long before I had the "pleasure" of being a cancer patient. I think the American Cancer Society does a lot! Here is what is in my Team Handbook I received. It explains what the Relay dollars support:

1.Cancer research. Among other things, The ACS has funded 40 Nobel Prize winning cancer researchers.
2.Cancer education.
3. I Can Cope-a free educational program providing info about cancer diagnosis and treatemnt. Helps participants deal with physical/emotional challenges.
4. Cancer advocay in all levels of legislature.
5. Reach to Recovery-matching breast cancer survivors with women recently diagnosed.
6. Look Good...Feel Better-Workshops offering women was to look their best during treatment.
7. Wigs and prothesis-Often can offer them free to survivors who request them.
8. Road to Recovery-Transportation to and from outpatient treatment.
9. Man to Man-Provides information and support for men affected by prostate cancer.
10. Cancer Survivor Network-Y'all might have heard of that one!
11. Hope Lodges-Temporary homes for cancer patients traveling far from home for treatment.
12. College Scholarships-Any survivor of Childhood Cancer before the age of 19 and is currently under 25 is eligible for scholarships to two or four-year institutions. Must be a legal resident of Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, or Washington, D.C.

Hope that helps!

*hugs*
Gail

lisa42 said:

Thanks for the info & more questions


Thanks for the info and thanks, John, for asking a tough question. A lot of people wouldn't dare to "go there".
I've been considering getting involved in my local town of Fallbrook's upcoming Relay For Life, which is scheduled for June. I've had a couple of people, my husband included, ask what I know about how such a large organization utilizes its donations and how many "dollars for dollar" actually go to the cause, what expenses are, how much overhead is there in such a large organization, etc. My husband equated it to people realizing a few years back how all these little girl scouts were selling cookies and some of the higher ups were enjoying "big fat salaries on the sales of little girls' cookies". (now please don't go off on me over my girl scout cookies' comment- it's not something I've verified myself, just something I'd heard said). On the same note, I understand some people's skepticism & so I was glad to see some information on ACS listed out. I'd love to learn even more information- even how much overhead may be there with the actual Relay For Life events vs. if people are volunteers, where the donated money for these events actually goes, etc.
Anyone with more info or comments? I'm not trying to be critical here at all, just learn some more info.
Thanks!

Lisa

Cookies
As long as they keep making Thin Mints and Tag-alongs,
I don't care what they do with their money!

snommintj said:

Thanks Lisa, Gail
I've been fishing alot. So I've also been doing some thinking. Mostly I've been thinking about how best to help others through my experience. I've been thinking about perhaps being cured. Should I be cured, I'm almost certainly going to have to start over. I had to lease my business to some one else. Since the economy is in the tank I had to take peanuts for it. I had 1 million in insurance and still have over a million in medical bills. I won't say that I was prepared for cancer but I think I was as prepared as any 34 year old could be. I wish I would have bought that disability insurance but other than that there is little else I could have done. So now, at 35, I see myself filing for bankruptcy and navigating a very uncertain financial future. Yes, I'm alive, but I shouldn't be punished twice for the same crime. I would have liked to have been told when diagnosed that I have cancer and whether I live or die I'm going to be broke. Because of the volunteer, today I was specifically thinking about financial support cancer patients get. I considered all of the money cancer generates and then I considered the patient. I looked into the ACS's financial affairs. They are hard to find. The best I can figure is they take in a billion dollars a year. They have a couple of billion in assets and their administrative costs run around 65%. Now I'm not hating on the ACS. I would just like to see some of this cash slow the flow of cash from the patient. Certainly, I don't think there should be a financial reward for getting cancer, but the cash is there. Compiling and distributing information is great, hosting this website is great but combined can't possibly be more than 5% of their billion dollar budget. I know there is much that I am overlooking but if the richest most powerful charity isn't addressing the financial concerns of the patient, who is?

American Cancer Society--Facts and Figures
Somehow I posted this comment so that it appeared mid-thread. I've reposted it below.

Hatshepsut

PhillieG said:

Cookies
As long as they keep making Thin Mints and Tag-alongs,
I don't care what they do with their money!

cookies
do you freeze your thin mints? That's the only way to eat them. Of course I haven't had one for 27 years (off refined sugar), but when I did eat them that was the way to go~!

peace, emily