An Analysis of the American Cancer Society and Its Part in Eliminating Cancer Worldwide

Riegelman (2010) defined public health as: “The totality of all evidence-based public and private efforts that preserve and promote health and prevent disease, disability, and death” (p. 4). Public health has been a community effort dating back to the ancient times (Riegelman, 2010). However, this effort was limited to minuscule sections of each individual community. Public health will be at its best when an organized effort can be obtained at a global level. Since ancient times, public health organizations have been created and have united the public health efforts. There are numerous public health concerns, one that is of increasing magnitude, cancer. Luckily, America has one of the largest non-profit voluntary public health organizations in the world: the American Cancer Society (American Cancer Society, 2008). The American Cancer Society has devoted its existence to researching, educating, and advocating the population on cancer and ways to help eliminate incidences throughout the world.  
Fifteen doctors and businesspersons founded the American Cancer Society in 1913 in New York City; up until this point, cancer was not in the forefront of public thought because it was not mentioned in the public often. The American Cancer Society’s front-runners knew in order for progress to be made, public awareness was needed (2008). Since then, the American Cancer Society has been fulfilling its mission “to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service” (American Cancer Society, 2008).
The American Cancer Society consists of one national home office, 12 charted, geographic division affiliates, and over 900 local offices (American Cancer Society, 2008). The National Home Office is responsible for overall planning, development, and implementation of the American Cancer Society’s information and support programs and services to assist people who...