National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship
This National Call to Action (NCTA) brings together the best strategies on cancer prevention and survivorship in order to resonate with America’s diverse populations and re-engage all sectors of society in the fight against cancer. More than 1.4 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and at least half of those new cases can be prevented or detected earlier when they are most treatable. This NCTA outlines goals and strategies for action, providing a roadmap for the private sector, policymakers, and all Americans to take decisive action in making cancer prevention and survivorship a national priority.
The four goals of the National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship are:
- Empower Healthy Lifestyles to Prevent Cancer
- Apply What We Know About Cancer Screening and Early Detection to All People
- Ensure that All People Can Navigate Through the Health Care System
- Provide Survivorship Care Plans and Systems of Support for All Cancer Survivors
Development of the NCTA Community
The Lance Armstrong Foundation and Canyon Ranch Institute, with the leadership of four previous United States Surgeons General, brought together members of the cancer community, including leaders in public health, science, government, and healthcare, through a series of pre-workshops and a workshop to develop the goals and strategies of the National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship that was released July 23, 2008.
Starting in July 2010, Canyon Ranch Institute is the administrative home of the NCTA Community. The NCTA Community includes the participants in the four NCTA Workshops held since March 2008, collaborators who assisted in the development of the National Call to Action, and individuals and organizations who have expressed interest in participating in future NCTA Community initiatives. As the administrative home, Canyon Ranch Institute will:
- Identify and designate National Call to Action community projects that serve to advance the goals and strategies that serve to advance the goals and strategies of the NCTA.
- Provide a central "hub" for the NCTA Community members to communicate, share ideas, and disseminate information to the NCTA Community and the cancer prevention and survivorship community at large.
CRI has established a NCTA Council of Experts for the NCTA Community. The Council of Experts provides insight and counsel to CRI in its role as administrative home of the NCTA Community and also as appropriate to NCTA Community members.
The NCTA Council of Experts members and Ex Officio members are:
- David S. Alberts, M.D., Director, Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Regents Professor of Medicine, Pharmacology, Nutritional Sciences and Public Health;
- Jennifer Cabe, M.A., CRI Executive Director and co-editor of the National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship;
- Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, CRI President, 17th U.S. Surgeon General (2002-2006) – Ex Officio Member;
- Adam Michael Clark, Ph.D., Director of Science and Policy, LIVESTRONG;
- Joycelyn Elders, M.D., M.S., 15th U.S. Surgeon General (1993-1994) – Ex Officio Member;
- Peter Greenwald, M.D., Dr.P.H., Director, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, NIH; Assistant Surgeon General, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;
- Gary Gurian, Program Director, C-Change;
- Susan Higginbotham, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., Director of Research, American Institute of Cancer Research;
- Antonia C. Novello, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H., 14th U.S. Surgeon General (1990-1993) – Ex Officio Member;
- Steven R. Patierno, Ph.D., Executive Director, George Washington Cancer Institute, Professor of Pharmacology, Genetics and Urology, the George Washington University;
- Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., Director, Institute for Health Promotion Research, Associate Director of Health Disparities Research, Cancer Therapy & Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio;
- Christine L. Sardo, M.P.H., R.D., CRI Partnerships and Policies Director – Council Chair
- David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., FAAFP, FACPM, FACP, 16th United States Surgeon General (1998-2002), Director, The Satcher Health Leadership Institute and Center of Excellence on Health Disparities, Morehouse School of Medicine, Morehouse University – Ex Officio Member;
- Laura Seeff, M.D., Chief (Acting), Comprehensive Cancer Control Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;
- Kim Thiboldeaux, President and CEO, Cancer Support Community; and
- Mel Zuckerman, Founder and Chairman, Canyon Ranch.
Second NCTA Anniversary Distinguished by Announcement of Council of Experts
The National Call to Action (NCTA) Council of Experts includes nationally-recognized authorities from all sectors. The Council of Experts will provide strategic insight and guidance to the diverse NCTA Community, a collective of individuals and organizations who share the common mission of advancing the four goals of the National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship.
Read the July 30, 2010, news release
NCTA Community Hosts 2010 Workshop: Innovation in the War on Cancer
The National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship Community hosted the 2010 Workshop: Innovation in the War on Cancer on March 15, 2010 in Washington, D.C. to engage stakeholders from all sectors of society to address the continuum of cancer prevention and survivorship as a national priority. Since the launch of the National Call to Action in July 2008, numerous stakeholders have committed to achieving the prevention and survivorship goals of the collaborative document that was developed under the leadership of the four most recent U.S. Surgeons General.
The Workshop focused on reviewing successful outcomes of individuals and organizations that have adopted strategies to meet the goals of the National Call to Action as well as reviewing gaps and unmet needs in all sectors and identify actionable steps to close these gaps. Panelists and participants contributed to the discussion about how to leverage innovation in medicine, patient advocacy and community engagement, policy, and prevention and control to advance cancer prevention and improve survivorship.
Learn more about the Workshop
First Anniversary of New War on Cancer Marks Many Advances
Goals and strategies from the U.S. Surgeons General provided roadmap to take decisive action in making cancer prevention and survivorship a national priority
One year ago, in July 2008, Lance Armstrong and the four most recent U.S. Surgeons General joined collaborators from across the United States to launch the National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship.
“In its first year, the National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship has served as intended – a battle plan to meet specific national goals to improve cancer prevention, recommended screenings, early detection, treatment, and survivorship. We continue to call on all sectors of society to take action and make the war on cancer a national priority,” said Richard Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, 17th U.S. Surgeon General (2002-2006) and president of the non-profit Canyon Ranch Institute.
Working to extend the positive effects of the National Call to Action, members of the National Call to Action community invite individuals and organizations to share their efforts and best practices in cancer prevention and survivorship. Answering this survey will help to identify and promote important programs and policies.
Canyon Ranch Institute, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and the four most recent U.S. Surgeons General launched the National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship in Washington, D.C. on July 23, 2008. Numerous other collaborators were involved in developing the National Call to Action and many more have since joined the National Call to Action community.
Take the survey | Read the one-year anniversary press release | Get Involved
NCTA Collaborator Involvement
The National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship strives to empower all
Americans to achieve optimal health and wellness throughout the cancer continuum. By taking
steps to prevent cancer and by improving quality of life after a cancer diagnosis, we can
reduce the burden that cancer and other chronic diseases place on our country. The National
Call to Action charges all Americans across all sectors of society, from our highest levels
of government and the private sector, to the individual person, to find the means and provide
the stamina to elevate the war against cancer
We invite individuals and organizations to learn more about how to become engaged and champion
strategies to achieve the goals outlined in the National Call to Action.
Read collaborator statements | Get involved
NCTA Press Conference – July 23, 2008
Four former United States Surgeons General stood with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Canyon Ranch Institute,
and numerous other collaborators to issue a National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship.
Lance Armstrong Foundation Chairman and Founder Lance Armstrong was joined by former U.S. Surgeons General Richard H. Carmona,
David Satcher, Joycelyn Elders, and Antonia Novello at a press conference in Washington, D.C. where these four most recent
U.S. Surgeons General outlined the battle plan for the new war on cancer and the steps that Americans can take to reduce the
risk of developing cancer and improve screening, early detection, treatment, and survivorship.
Read the press release | Read speaker bios | NCTA in the news | View event photos