5 ways your donation to the American Cancer Society makes a tangible difference

In January 2022, the American Cancer Society (ACS) projected nearly 2 million new cancer diagnoses and more than 600,000 deaths to occur this year. Those are staggering, sobering numbers — but without the work of the American Cancer Society, they could have been higher.

According to ACS, cancer mortality rates declined 32 percent from 1991 to 2019, progress that the organization directly attributes to the investments of funds and resources it has made in the areas of advocacy, discovery, and patient support. ACS and its nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network℠ (ACS CAN), have fought for policy changes, like working to close the Medicare coverage gap so that everyone may have affordable insurance options and relieving the tobacco burden, the most preventable cause of death in the US. The ACS has also invested more than $3.1 billion in cancer research since 1991 and continues to provide essential support to people with cancer and their families — all huge strides toward preventing cancer diagnoses and deaths.

But there’s so much more that can be done — work that cannot be done without the help of fundraising, volunteering, and donating.

Which bears the question: Where exactly do your dollars go once you donate to the ACS? How does $5, $10, or $100 make a difference? Here’s a breakdown of the good your dollars can do in the fight against cancer.

If you or a loved one have been affected by a cancer diagnosis, you likely know the value of a personal support system to help you meet the challenges ahead. One 2019 survey conducted by ACS CAN found that the side effects of cancer go far past the physical; 51 percent of respondents — both patients and caregivers — reported experiencing anxiety, depression, and other emotional or mental challenges. People impacted by cancer need a place to connect with others who are going through or have experienced similar challenges.

Enter the American Cancer Society Cancer Survivors Network®, a free, supportive online community for connecting with other patients, survivors, and caregivers. The network’s discussion boards and resource library give those affected a place to share personal experiences and find practical tips, like how to navigate the side effects of cancer and treatment. Just $10 can help fund this network, which can serve as a crucial support system throughout an individual’s entire cancer journey.

When people with questions about cancer need information or just someone to talk to, trained cancer information specialists are available through the American Cancer Society’s 24/7 helpline to provide guidance with everything from health insurance assistance to finding essential resources and services.

Your $40 gift could buy one specialist a headset, an essential tool in their day-to-day work. Cancer information specialists are available by phone and through video calls and online live chat. In 2021 alone, the helpline received 250,000 calls and chats requesting cancer information and support.

A $10 donation can go a long way to ease the physical and emotional burdens for those facing cancer. But donations also help ease the financial burdens of a cancer diagnosis. In 2021, it was reported that more than 60 percent of Americans would not be able to cover an unexpected cost of $400, up from 40 percent in 2019 — and a cancer diagnosis can definitely mean unexpected bills and medical expenses, even with insurance. The costs of cancer treatment have gone up over the past several decades, increasing the risk of financial hardship for survivors. One recent study found that nearly 70 percent of patients reported increased hardship within the first year of treatment due to new debts, loans, and loss of income.

A financial donation to ACS can help cover some of the costs that patients — and caregivers — must suddenly face as a result of a cancer diagnosis. Take transportation, for example: Getting to and from treatments and appointments can be a constant struggle for those without access to reliable transportation or who cannot drive themselves.

The American Cancer Society Road To Recovery® program helps ease the worry of traveling to a cancer-related medical appointment by providing free rides through volunteer drivers. You can help provide a ride to treatment with a $50 donation.That’s just a little more than you might spend on a ride-share or cab ride.

If you have more to give, consider this: $200 covers four rides for a patient in need; $500 will cover ten rides. The number of trips to treatment a patient may need can add up quickly, whether they are in diagnosis, treatment, or remission. In 2020, the Road To Recovery program provided more than 135,000 free rides, serving 14,000 patients nationwide. Transportation should never stand in the way of cancer treatment.

Finding and paying for lodging near treatment can be another financial burden for those who must travel away from home to get the treatment they need.

Finding and paying for lodging near treatment can be another financial burden for those who must travel away from home to get the treatment they need. American Cancer Society Hope Lodge® communities provide a home away from home for people with cancer and their caregivers. Your $65 donation could provide someone with a nurturing place to stay at one of the 31 Hope Lodge locations across the country (and Puerto Rico) so they can focus on getting better. Private rooms offer guests a reprieve, while communal spaces encourage connection in a home-like environment that will give everyone peace of mind during treatment.

For about the price of one night in a hotel room, you can help pay for three nights at a Hope Lodge location. For the cost of a weekend getaway, you could pay for eight nights. Or consider what covering the cost of a guest’s average stay — 11 nights — might mean to that patient. Then, imagine what an even bigger donation could do. A donation of $1,100 would be able to cover lodging for an average Hope Lodge guest’s entire stay. Those dollars add up to a big impact. In 2019, ACS provided 500,000 free nights of lodging, saving patients and their families $50 million in hotel costs.

Of course, larger donations can have an even greater impact on those needing long-term care. Just think: $2,730 can give a patient a free place to stay during a 6-week radiation stay; $5,850 can help provide hope in the form of 90 free nights of lodging for a bone marrow transplant recipient. Bone marrow transplant recipients are more prone to infection, so they need a specially designed room when they’re traveling for cancer-related treatments. Imagine the peace of mind you could give transplant recipients and their caregivers when you help fund a free, sterile place to stay so they can focus on their recovery.

These are just some ways that your donation — as small as $10 — can help ACS work to ensure every person has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer.

Statistics provided by American Cancer Society, updated 6/21/2022.