Cancer Connection

Breast cancer awareness month makes many Alaskans think about woman in their lives who have battled the disease. One percent of breast cancer patients, however, are in fact men.  

When you mention the American Cancer Society a lot of us know they do great things for the community. It's a fair bet, however, it would be hard for most of us to give specific examples of those great things. We'll start this series with the area ACS officials call patient services. They are emphasized by an Aniak man's story, who says if it was not for the American Cancer Society, right now, he would be dead.  

The American Cancer Society is full of advocates, folks who fight the political fight on a local, state and national level. While Alaskans are used to hearing Assembly Member Mike Gutierrez speak about those sorts of public policy issues, it might surprise you to hear cancer took his mom's life.  

Let the statistic, cancer is Alaska's number one killer, really sink in. Just think about what that means to so many of our neighbors faced with a diagnosis. When they, or their loved ones, first learn the devastating news the first thing they want is information. Alaska's American Cancer Society is actually the number one information source.  

Research funding is so important because that money is key to finding a cancer cure. The federal government's National Cancer Institute is the nation's number one cancer research funding provider. But, often times, the bureaucratic process stands in the way. That's why the national Stand Up To Cancer's telethon proceeds go directly to these researchers. It turns out, the second biggest cancer research-funding provider is your American Cancer Society.  

A month-and-a-half long CBS 11 News investigation is raising serious questions about some state officials and lawmakers. After a new American Cancer Society report said those officials were failing to fund policies aimed at fighting Alaska's number one killer- the CBS 11 Cancer Connection decided to dig deeper to get to the bottom of the accusation.  

Every year, for six years now, 40 bike riders have made their way here to Anchorage from Austin, TX. The 4,500-mile ride serves as a metaphor in the battle against cancer: keep peddling the same way cancer patients have to keep fighting.  

14-years ago nearly 1,000 Alaskans showed up for a run aimed at raising men's cancer awareness, and supporting survivors. While cancer continues to be Alaska's number one killer, sadly, the Alaska Men's Run numbers have dwindled.