Download Your Gifts at Work

Your
Community
at Work
How we are helping residents and cancer patients in Galveston
County
The American Cancer Society is the leading nonprofit organization fighting cancer in
our country and the only
community-based volunteer cancer organization. The American Cancer Society allocates
money wisely in order to offer hope, progress, and answers to individuals in the
Gulf Coast Region and communities across the nation.
Each year, approximately 1,436 residents are diagnosed with cancer. In 2011, 8,273
residents in Galveston County received a service or participated in an American
Cancer Society program. Thanks to your efforts, we are helping cancer patients in
Galveston County.
Research
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Since 1946, the American Cancer Society has invested approximately $3.1 billion
in cancer research.
The mammogram and pap smear early detection tests for women exist today due to
the work of researchers funded by the American Cancer Society.
$120 provides researchers with a case of 144 petri dishes allowing them to turn
theories into cancer cures. Currently, the American Cancer Society is funding
53 researchers in the Gulf Coast Region totaling $31 million. In Galveston 2
researchers are funded for $547,500.
Education
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In addition to research, the American Cancer Society assists the people of
Galveston County through education, advocacy, and service programs. They work
to educate adults and children on the prevention and early detection of cancer
and advocate at the local, state, and federal levels for cancer-related
legislation.
Cancer information is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-ACS-2345 or
www.cancer.org.
$50 provides 83 hours of toll-free access at our nationwide call center. More
than 1.2 million calls are received each year.
In 2011 The American Cancer Society’s Prevention and Early Detection outreach
programs reached 7,583 people in Galveston County with programs and information
on cancer detection, screening guidelines and ways to stay healthy.
Advocacy
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The American Cancer Society’s advocacy efforts work in concert with its
research, education, and service initiatives to strengthen our nation’s cancerrelated laws, regulations, and programs.
American Cancer Society efforts have lead to the doubling of the National
Cancer Institute’s research budget.
Thanks to The American Cancer Society’s advocacy efforts it's now required that
health insurance plans cover life-saving cancer tests, including mammograms,
cervical cancer screenings, prostate cancer screenings and colon cancer
screenings.
Patient Services
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The American Cancer Society’s Patient Service Programs provide a wide range of
services and programs for 372 cancer patients and their family members at no
direct cost.
$2,500 provided 10 women who underwent surgery for breast cancer weighted
breast prosthesis and mastectomy bras.
In 2011, __ cancer patients from Galveston County were provided ___ rides to
their life-saving cancer treatment.
All programs and services of the American Cancer Society are provided free of
charge.
For more information on these and other programs, call your local office at 713706-2890.
American Cancer Society
Programs and Services
Available in Galveston County
Personal Health Manager – An organizational tool that provides newly diagnosed
cancer patients with valuable information about their diagnosis and assists them
of their cancer journey.
Wigs, turbans, and head coverings are available in a variety of styles, colors,
and sizes.
Transportation Assistance - trained volunteers drive cancer patients to and from
their treatments. In areas where volunteers are not available, the local office
provides taxi vouchers for patients.
“tlc" Tender Loving CareTM, is a "magalog" (magazine/catalog) that combines
helpful articles and information with products for women coping with cancer or
any cancer treatment that causes hair loss. Products include wigs, hairpieces,
breast forms, prostheses, bras, hats, turbans, swimwear, and helpful accessories
at the lowest possible prices.
The Breast Prosthesis Project provides women who underwent surgery for breast
cancer with weighted breast prosthesis and bras to assist them in getting back
to normal life.
The American Cancer Society’s Resource Centers assist cancer patients and their
family members receive valuable information on their cancer diagnosis as well as
referrals to other community resourses.
Reach to Recovery - for more than 30 years, the American Cancer Society Reach
to Recovery program has helped people (female and male) cope with their breast
cancer experience. This experience begins when someone is faced with the
possibility of a breast cancer diagnosis and continues through the entire period
that breast cancer remains a concern. A breast cancer survivor meets one-on-one
with a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient to help them through the journey.
Reach to Recovery volunteers offer understanding, support, and hope because they
themselves have survived breast cancer and gone on to live normal, productive
lives.
The Look Good...Feel Better program is a community-based, free, national
service that teaches female cancer patients beauty techniques to help restore
their appearance and self-image during chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
I Can Cope is an educational program for people facing cancer—either
personally, or as a friend or family caregiver. Living with cancer can be one of
the greatest challenges a person can face in the course of a lifetime. I Can
Cope offers help to meet this challenge.
The Man to Man program helps men cope with prostate cancer by providing
community-based education and support to patients and their family members. In
addition, Man to Man plays an important role in community education about
prostate cancer; it encourages men and health care professionals to actively
consider screening for prostate cancer appropriate to each man’s age and risk
for the disease.
Programs Available No Matter Where You Live
Cancer never sleeps and neither do we. Cancer Information Specialists are
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help answer questions about
cancer and connect callers to local resources at
1-800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org.