The American Cancer Society (ACS) ensures the public has free access to cancer-related information (American Cancer Society, 2017a). Patients and families can access these resources through the organization's website or telephone support services.
A cancer patient and family can learn more about types of cancers, treatment, making treatment decisions, financial issues, insurance matters, emotional support, and ways of coping with the new condition (American Cancer Society, 2017a). The program I would recommend to the patient is the Patient Navigation Program which guides, supports, and informs patients and their families throughout the journey.
Factors contributing to the growing prevalence of cancer include smoking, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, long-term hormone use, diets, and air pollution among others (Brawley, 2011). Legislation that discourages tobacco use as well as smoking in public places can help in reducing different types of cancer. Tobacco legislation focuses on raising taxes imposed on cigarettes, banning smoking in public places, and educating the public against the dangers of smoking.
Additionally, the plans to introduce health and nutrition education in schools can also help educate young people and ensure they adopt lifestyles that enable them avoid cancer and other lifestyle related diseases and conditions (Brawley, 2011). These and additional policies can effectively lower the prevalence of cancer in the future.
The ACS funded the Palliative Care Research (American Cancer Society, 2017b). According to this study, the original goals of palliative care involved ensuring the comfort of terminally ill patients.
However, palliative care has evolved over the years to include efforts to relieve pain during and after treatment, the management of treatment side effects, and helping families to cope (Brawley, 2011). Through the findings of this study, new cancer programs can lead to improved survival rates and quality of life of cancer patients or other people suffering from terminal illnesses.