American Cancer Society marks 100th year with one goal: Finish the fight against cancer

It was 100 years ago today the American Cancer Society was founded by 15 prominent physicians and business leaders in New York City.

First known as the American Society for the Control of Cancer, the organization launched the fight against a disease that was feared as a death sentence at the time.

A century later, the American Cancer Society, now the nation's largest voluntary health organization, observes 100 years of progress – this year alone saw a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates since the 1990s, according to the Society's latest "Cancer Facts & Figures." That translates  to more than 1 million cancer deaths avoided during that span — more birthdays celebrated.

The American Cancer Society is marking the occasion by pledging to finish the fight against cancer in the next century.

Since it began the fight against cancer in 1913, the American Cancer Society has funded researchers that have contributed to nearly every major cancer research breakthrough; helped establish the link between cancer and smoking; and contributed to a 50 percent decline in smoking rates.

The American Cancer Society has, and continues to help cancer patients everywhere get the help they need through services like the 1-800-227-2345 help line, free lodging for patients and their families traveling for treatment, and free rides to and from treatment. 

The American Cancer Society is using its 100^th birthday on May 22 to encourage people around the country and right here in southern Butler County to join together, make noise and take action to finish the fight against cancer. The American Cancer Society urges everyone to make some noise by:

• participating in your American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Cranberry Township
• enrolling in the American Cancer Society's groundbreaking Cancer Prevention Study-3 to find better ways to prevent cancer.
• creating a "life list" with the American Cancer Society's Facebook application
• taking a "Moment Against Silence" by pledging to do one thing to help finish the fight against cancer

Today, two out of three people diagnosed with cancer are surviving the disease for five years or longer.

More than 400 people a day in the U.S. are celebrating birthdays that would have otherwise been lost to cancer.

As the official sponsor of birthdays, the American Cancer Society will continue to make noise by its increasing efforts to ensure lifesaving cancer research gets funded; by making sure people facing cancer have the help they need, such as a free place to stay during treatment or a ride to get there; and by fighting for equal access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, and clean air.

"Like" your Relay For Life of Cranberry Township on Facebook and tell us how you're planning to finish the fight.

Or tweet to your friends with #finishthefight with how you're fighting back in Cranberry!