Cancer Nation – Formerly The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

For nearly 40 years, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) has been the leading voice for quality cancer care. When we began in 1986, “cancer survivorship” was a radical concept. Survivors were often treated as after-thoughts, if they were acknowledged at all.

Today, innovations in cancer treatments have dramatically increased the number of people who survive. Right now, there are more than 18 million people living with, through, and beyond cancer. We are in every town and family in America.

Our size now makes us too powerful for any of our healthcare needs to remain unmet. So NCCS is evolving its identity to put survivors front and center, strengthening our collective voice to demand better care.

Today, cancer is not just about how long we survive but how well we live. The very treatments that save us can alter our health care needs forever. Cancer can change our bodies. Destroy our savings. Mess with our minds. Or return when we least expect it.

We are the survivors, caregivers, advocates, and allies demanding something bigger: a Cure for Care. We are pushing for policies that guarantee:

• Whole Person Cancer Care that treats us as people, not just patients.
• Survivorship Plans so every care team knows our history and needs.
• Financial Protections so getting better doesn’t mean going broke.

This is not a moment. It is a movement.

We are launching bold campaigns, equipping survivors to lead, and making sure policymakers can’t ignore the reality of survivorship any longer.

Join us and help change the care system from the inside out.
Donate now to fuel the movement for a Cure for Care.

Clinical trials are the cornerstone of advancing cancer treatment, offering patients cutting-edge therapies while contributing to critical research. However, effective communication between patients and oncologists is essential to ensure understanding, participation, and optimal outcomes.

In Cancer Nation’s 2024 State of Survivorship survey, participation in clinical trials remains consistent, with key drivers being the doctor’s recommendation (51%) and the prospect of access to new treatments (28%). Among patients who did not participate in clinical trials, 74% of patients said that they were not asked …which remains the largest barrier. Patients also cited concerns about side effects, treatment protocols, and location as secondary barriers, with these concerns being more prominent among younger patients and patients of color​.

This webinar will discuss the role of communication in clinical trial participation. Attendees will gain insight into how communication can influence trial participation, improve patient understanding, and address concerns such as eligibility, side effects, and informed consent. Participants will also learn about resources related to clinical trial participation available to oncology professionals and their patients.

Register Now

Can’t Make It? Register for the webinar and we’ll email you a link to the video recording when it is available.

We need a cure for care. That means each and every member of Cancer Nation gets:

• Whole Person Cancer Care. Designed to see, treat, and cover us as people with feelings and families and goals beyond survival.
• Survivorship Care Plans. Drafted by oncology care teams and reimbursed by insurers, so all our doctors know what we have been through and what we need to stay healthy moving forward.
• Financial Protections. Including health insurance that we can afford and covers what we need, so we don’t go bankrupt just trying to get better.

Nobody gets a vote on whether they get cancer. But everybody gets a vote on how we live with it. We are Cancer Nation. And we are here to be heard.

What This Means
You will start to see our new name and look across our website, social media, and materials in the months ahead. Our mission remains the same: to advocate for quality cancer care for everyone diagnosed with cancer. The names will change but our programming will continue. We will keep working with policymakers, clinicians, and advocates to fix the gaps in care. But we will be doing it louder. We are more united than ever.

Join Us
This rebrand marks the next chapter in a legacy of bold survivor-driven advocacy. Whether you have been with us for decades or are just finding us now — you are part of Cancer Nation.

Explore our new look. Learn how to get involved. And help us build a future where thriving after cancer is the norm, not the exception.