National Cancer Research Month

May is National Cancer Research Month

National Cancer Research Month, observed each May, recognizes the importance of cancer research. It also recognizes the contributions of researchers, physician-scientists, survivors, and patient advocates. These are the people dedicated to the eradication of cancer. Further, National Cancer Research Month is supported by Congress through special resolutions in the House and Senate. The awareness color associated with National Cancer Research Month is lavender. Wear a lavender enamel awareness ribbon pin, lavender fabric ribbon, or lavender silicone awareness wristband bracelet to call attention to this important month.

May is National Cancer Research Month – Support the Cancer Cause of Your Choice

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) initiated and supports National Cancer Research Month. In addition, this month highlights the importance of lifesaving research to the millions of people around the world. These people are affected by the collection of devastating diseases we call cancer. Join us in support of this global awareness campaign highlighting the importance of cancer research. As a result, thanks to spectacular advances made by cancer research, survivors are living longer.

More than 18 million people in the United States and millions more worldwide are cancer survivors. Most importantly, they are living with, through, and beyond their disease. Despite that progress, far too many people continue to suffer and die due to these diseases. Take a moment at this extraordinary time to show your strong support of pioneering cancer research. It is saving lives every day.

Further, research is crucial for identifying effective treatments and potential cures for cancer. During National Cancer Research Month, join as we raise awareness about the important and incredible impact research has on treating and curing people with cancer. Wear a lavender pin, fabric ribbon or wristband to show your support.

Click below to learn how each of these nonprofits are contributing to research and for ways you can support their work. 

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA):

OCRA works every day to fund cures, foster community, further conversations and, ultimately, the cause. OCRA is the largest global organization dedicated to fighting ovarian cancer. They advance research to prevent, treat, and defeat ovarian cancer.  OCRA supports women and their families before, during and beyond diagnosis. And they work with all levels of government to ensure ovarian cancer is a priority. Click here to learn more. The awareness color for Ovarian Cancer is teal.

Melanoma Research Alliance: 

The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) is the largest non-profit funder of melanoma research. Since its founding in 2007, MRA has committed $101 million in funding to end suffering and death due to melanoma by collaborating with all stakeholders to accelerate powerful research, advance cures for all patients, and prevent melanoma. Since MRA’s founding, an unprecedented 12 new therapies have been approved by the FDA to treat melanoma. This brings the total number to 14. Advances in melanoma research are having a ripple effect across the field of oncology. Melanoma has been called the case study for state-of-the-art cancer drug development, precision medicine, and immunotherapy. In fact, therapies that were pioneered in melanoma are now being tested in more than 30 different tumor types. MRA has directly funded 372 investigators at 126 different institutions in 15 countries. Click here to learn more. The awareness color for Melanoma is black.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: 

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) is the world’s oldest and largest private institution dedicated to the care and control of cancer. It was the first institution to successfully perform a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor, a breakthrough that dramatically increased the number of patients for which this lifesaving procedure is available.

Memorial Sloan Kettering has also produced more FDA approved drugs for the treatment of cancer in the past four decades than any other single academic institution. Each year, MSK counts more than 24,000 inpatient and 500,000 outpatient visits to its main campus in New York City and regional sites. While many of their patients reside in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, many others travel from across the country and around the globe to seek MSK’s care. Click here to learn more.

CureSearch: 

Research is the only way to end childhood cancer. But we cannot pursue this goal at the cost of a child’s quality of life or long-term survival. CureSearch is committed to accelerating the pace of cancer research via large, long-term commitments to the most novel and promising science.

CureSearch is building the kind of transformative partnerships that will eliminate silos, increase collaboration, encourage invention, and help develop targeted therapies to reduce toxicity and improve quality of life for survivors. Finally, CureSearch is closely measuring and communicating its impact on children and families. Accelerate the search. End childhood cancer. Join CureSearch today. Click here to learn more. The awareness color for childhood cancer is gold.

Breast Cancer Coalition: 

Breast Cancer Coalition is dedicated to knowing how to end breast cancer by January 1, 2020 through the power of grassroots action and advocacy. NBCC is quite different from other breast cancer organizations. They are about challenging the status quo, catalyzing research and science, leveraging existing resources and giving those diagnosed and those at risk of breast cancer the tools to make decisions for themselves.

NBCC’s achievements range from generating more than $3.3 billion of federal funding for breast cancer research to creating a system of access to health care for uninsured women with breast and cervical cancer, to launching international training programs in science and health care. While the vast majority of resources are focused on finding the next treatment, NBCC is doing something very different. They are bringing together unprecedented collaborations among scientists, visionaries, and advocates to catalyze, plan and implement work in two major areas: how to prevent metastasis to save lives and how to prevent the disease from developing in the first place. Click here to learn more. The awareness color for breast cancer is pink.