14. The "Societies"
The "Societies" are important for their leadership in research and there is far more research about cancer than about any other disease.
There are four exceptionally large non-profit associations -- three of them are called "societies" -- that exert major influence on the direction of cancer research and cancer care policy nationwide. They also have very user-friendly websites and pamphlets for cancer patients.
Note: All numbers approximate/estimates.
- American Society of
Clinical Oncology
(www.asco.org)
- Society of Surgical
Oncology
(www.surgonc.org)
- American Ass’n For
Cancer Research
(aacr.org)
- American Cancer
Society
(www.cancer.gov)
- # of Members*
- 30,000
- 5,000
- 20,000
- Chapters in
all 50 states
- Budget/Yr.**
- $100 million
- $20 million
- $40 million
- $850 million
- Mission
- Continuing education for
oncologists who primarily see
and treat patients in the
doctor’s office
- Continuing education for
oncologists who perform surgery
on cancer patients
- Forum to collect and compare
laboratory research on
anti-cancer drug development
- Providing educational materials
for cancer patients
and caregivers
* approximate ** approximate and in some cases estimated