Mission
Global Focus on Cancer’s mission is to raise awareness, provide support and create a global network of cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and medical professionals. Our goal is to increase awareness, decrease stigma and encourage early detection and treatment by increasing access to information about cancer. Awareness is an integral component in the early detection of the disease, and early detection is a key element in the battle against cancer.
What We Do
GFC was formed in 2011 as a US based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to act as an agent of simple and effective change to help reduce the global burden of cancer. We do this through creating, implementing and sustaining cancer awareness programs and supporting the development of locally sustainable cancer support groups in areas where access to information about cancer is critically lacking.
Where the Need is the Greatest
Cancer is a growing burden across the world. Each year, more than 18 million people receive a new cancer diagnosis and this number is expected to increase to 29.4 million by the year 2040. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, cancer related deaths still exceed 12 million people annually—more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.
More than 60% of all cancers occur in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet only 5% of the world’s total cancer resources are focused in these regions. In these areas, cancer treatment and prevention services are lacking and some countries have no specialized cancer care at all, leading to a disproportionate number of patients who present in late stages of the disease. When this occurs, treatment is more difficult with poorer outcomes. Even if appropriate treatment is available, the patient may not be able to afford it, thus making it less likely for them to receive the vital care they need.
Cancer awareness is desperately lacking in many resource-poor settings. Often, patients do not have the knowledge that cancer may be preventable or treatable, but rather, view it as a “death sentence”.
How We Work
GFC partners with local organizations to connect them with established global cancer resources. We translate existing cancer awareness materials and create new brochures/pamphlets in the local language to promote cancer awareness, early detection and treatment options. We utilize our relationships with doctors, hospitals, cancer organizations and US companies with international offices to create and distribute country specific literature and to host cancer awareness seminars. We assist in creating new, and expanding upon existing cancer support groups using established, successful models and adapting them to fit the individual country.
GFC has developed an approach in each target country that consists of:
Awareness/Education:
We develop and introduce evidence-based, locally adaptable and culturally appropriate cancer awareness and educational programs.
Support:
We create new, and/or expand existing cancer support groups using established, successful models and adapting them to fit the local culture and resources of each country.
Advocacy:
We partner with local cancer survivors, advocacy organizations, clinician champions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to advocate for supportive patient centered policy changes at the local, regional, national and international level.
Networking:
Capitalizing on our multinational relationships, we assist clinicians, hospitals, advocates and organizations to expand their networks across countries and regions and learn from best practices.
