Please respond with a paragraph to the following post, add citations and references:
1. In the case of a family friend or colleague that has just been diagnosed with Cancer the American Cancer Society (ACS) might provide education and support through many avenues. The thought of being diagnosed with cancer is a very distressing, devastating and depressing issue. The diagnosis of any kind of cancer would not only affect the individual mentally, it will also affect family members. The first thing most people think is that will come I die and how soon. The first approach I think the ACS will take is be supportive by evaluating the person and their family to find out their belief system, what type, stage and treatments of the cancer they have been presented with by their doctor. Then the ACS can provide the best information, education on their specific cancer as well as identify and refer them to a local cancer support group. This will give the individual the support and education on how other people are living with cancer. This gives them a more relatable idea of how to deal with it on a daily basis and can help the family understand how to best support them. ACS will support them greatly by providing all the information needed and also refer them to spiritual support which can be very important to the individual and the family. ACS is involved in variety of activities and opportunities for the individual to participate in them. The newly diagnosed person will be provided with reading materials referencing their specific cancer and all available support groups and activities available. They also will include a plan for treatment relating to the stage of the cancer. If it is in the early stages, it can be treated appropriately and aggressively before it metastasizes. It is Important for the ACS to take all the above-mentioned measures as they will help the individual and family psychologically. It may help them to be more optimistic and that death may not be so imminent. This will help develop better coping skills and support during further diagnostic testing and treatments are going on.
2. According to statistics published by the ACS, in 2019 in the United States (US), there will be an estimated 1,762,450 new cancer cases (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2018, para. 1). The factors that contribute to the yearly incidences and mortality rates of various cancers in Americans and what changes in policy and practice are most likely to affect these figures over time. The ACS contributes lack of awareness, lifestyle, diet, lack of information, lack of physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, sun and other types of radiation, viruses and infections, and low numbers of vaccinations against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) as some of the factors (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2018). According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018), lack of proper screening, lack of sleep, lack of health insurance and families from low income groups may not have close health facilities for screening contribute to the yearly incidences and mortality rates of various cancers. The policies and practices that may likely affect these figures over time will be the availability of affordable health care to all Americans, aggressive education and information about cancer awareness with all community groups and community-based leaders advocating in support and education about cancer in community health sectors (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018). Also, increasing the availability of HPV vaccines for adolescents alongside having in school education can be a good way to educate young people. Increasing the number of advertisements via media needs to be continued with the possible assistance of celebrity involvement for further assistance in reaching more communities. Continued financial and political support from the government for improving early screening and prevention education of various cancers in the health care facilities. There should be bulletin boards educating about the various types of cancer, prevention, and promote a healthy lifestyle. This year it is estimated that 609,640 Americans are expected to die of cancer, that is more than 1,670 people a day (ACS, 2018). Cancer is considered the second most common cause of death in the US (CDC, 2018).
3. The ACS has several research programs they continually fund. One of these programs funded by ACS is the Colon Cancer (Colorectal Cancer Program) (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2018). American Cancer Society in collaboration with the National Center for Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have extensively collaborated on identified areas in dealing with colon and rectal cancer. The areas identified are: Epidemiology, surveillance, environmental approaches of health care systems characteristics and community progress link to clinical services (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018). All these areas work jointly with public health, federal agencies, community agencies and church organizations to provide educational support in the written form, support groups, referrals and spiritual support. Since 1999 the screen for life National Colorectal Cancer action organization was formed to raise awareness and increase men and women 50 years and older who are at risk to get preventative screening (CDC, 2018). For more than 70 years, Colon and Rectal Cancer research has helped find answers to critical questions about colon and rectal cancer, causes, prevention and detection and questions on how to improve the patients quality of life. American Cancer Society has been providing grants for the research on colon cancer to individual researchers, universities and hospitals that are actively involved in this research. One of the main advancements is the introduction of the screening Toolkit that educates on the tests available, risk factors and frequently asked questions. The many forms of testing for colorectal cancer are the guaiac stool sample test, colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy to check for polyps done every 10 years, and the barium enema with CT colonography to be done every 5 years (CDC, 2018). The ACS is attempting to create a centralized scheduling system for people over 50 years for screening which will help notify individuals when it is time to schedule their screening (ACS, 2018). Other measures being taken in research and training are exploring the increased risk associated with obesity, education on how the body metabolizes iron which leads to inflammation of the colon and rectum, developing a vaccine that boosts a persons immune system to prevent further formation of colon cancer and studies that will give recommendations on diets that prevent colon cancer (CDC, 2018). There are additional studies being carried out to investigate a newly discovered protein linked to the development stages of colon cancer and helps the cancer to metastasize. All of these measures are in collaboration with gastroenterologists, primary care providers, clinical management, health insurance companies and other voluntary groups that may help overcome and address the issue and reduce incidences of colon cancer. All of these efforts that ACS and the CDC have helped fight colon and rectal cancer and decrease the numbers of individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer for the past 2 decades and they will continue the fight.
Every year the ACS epidemiologists publishes Cancer Statistics which provides a developed analyse of colon and rectal cancer incidences mortality trends in the US as well as the latest information on risk factors, early detection, treatment and current research (Siegel, Miller, & Jemal, 2018).
References
American Cancer Society. (2018). Common causes of cancer. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes.html
American Cancer Society. (2018). Explore cancer statistics. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://cancerstatisticscenter.cancer.org/?_ga=2.1
American Cancer Society. (2018). Our research programs. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.cancer.org/research.html
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP). Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/crccp/index.htm
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Policies and practices of cancer. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/promoting_prevention.ht
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Risk factors and cancer. Retrieved March 4, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/risk_factors.htm
Siegel, R. L., Miller, K. D., & Jemal, A. (2018, January 4). Cancer statistics, 2018. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 68(1), 7-30. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21442
