Cancer Fight Converges on Washington, DC, May 31 - June 4, 2002

American Cancer Society
Tuesday, 28 May 2002

The American Cancer Society, the nation's leading voluntary health agency, announces several cancer-related events that it is sponsoring or co-sponsoring in Washington, DC, from May 31 through June 4. In addition, the National Dialogue on Cancer (www.ndoc.org) and events organized by the Susan G. Komen Foundation are taking place in the U.S. capital during this same time frame.

More detailed information will be issued in the coming days, but following are brief descriptions of the American Cancer Society events:

American Cancer Society Medal of Honor Awards

Former President George Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush are among the recipients of the medal, which is the American Cancer Society's highest award for outstanding contributions in fighting cancer. The Bushes are being honored in the cancer control category. Other honorees this year are Brian J. Druker, MD, inventor of the cancer drug Gleevec (clinical research category), and V. Craig Jordan, PhD., DSc (basic research).

The awards presentation will take place on Friday, May 31, 2002 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, in Washington, D.C.

One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC)

One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) is a collaboration of more than 40 national non-profit organizations representing more than 20 million Americans formed to deliver a unified message to Congress and the White House on the need for increased cancer-related research and research application funding as well as for screening and prevention initiatives.

On June 4, volunteers from OVAC partner groups will meet with U.S. Senators and Representatives urging them to fulfill their commitment to double the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget by 2003, fully fund the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and fund vital programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Cancer Survivorship Behavioral Science Conference

The Society and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will co-sponsor the first biennial Cancer Survivorship conference to focus on opportunities and challenges in cancer survivorship research and to expand it into new areas that will lead to the improved health and well-being of cancer survivors and their families. The two-day conference will include a Web-cast town hall meeting sponsored by the Society, NCI, and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. To register online for the Web cast, go to www.acscsn.org/register.

The conference will take place June 2-4, 2002 at the Hilton Washington Towers in Washington, D.C. June 2 is National Cancer Survivor's Day.

American Cancer Society Distinguished Service Award

The annual award, which recognizes major achievements in the cancer field, will be presented on June 1 to László K. Tabár, MD, professor of diagnostic radiology at Uppsala University in Sweden and world-recognized developer of mammography technology and techniques.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org