Friday, September 11, 2020

Cancer Doesn’t Stop. And Neither Do We.

 Published on September 2, 2020 Eileen Howard Boone

SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility & Philanthropy at CVS Health, President of CVS Health Foundation

Unfortunately, nearly all of us have a personal story about someone in our life who has been affected by cancer. And many of us deeply understand the hardships cancer patients face. Today, for those who are battling cancer during the pandemic, we know the challenges are even greater. 

June survey conducted by our partners at the American Cancer Society found that the pandemic had affected health care for nearly 80% of cancer patients in active treatment, up from 27% in April, with nearly 20% reporting delays in treatment. 

Dr. Bill Cance, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at the American Cancer Society shared that recent studies show cancer patients in active treatment are more than five times more likely to die if they contract coronavirus, and even patients with cancer that has stabilized are still twice as likely to die if they contract COVID-19.

Even during a pandemic – cancer doesn’t stop. Thankfully, neither do our partners at the American Cancer Society, who we have been proud to support over the last several years with our pledge to contribute at least $10 million through in-store fundraising. 

Beginning this week, please join me in supporting the American Cancer Society at our nearly 10,000 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide or online at cancer.org/cvsdonate. As we continue to work to respond to the most critical public health challenge in our lifetime – the COVID-19 pandemic – supporting organizations like the American Cancer Society is more important than ever.

CVS Health's latest commitment to the American Cancer Society builds on our longstanding partnership with the organization that includes our shared commitment to tobacco-control and work on our Be The First initiative, a $50 million commitment to help deliver the first tobacco-free generation.

The American Cancer Society has led the way in supporting work to confirm the link between smoking and lung cancer, along with other breakthroughs like the first chemotherapy treatment and demonstrating the effectiveness of mammograms for early detection. 

Our commitment to building healthier communities is underscored by support of the American Cancer Society’s accomplishments, which have helped lower the risk of cancer through education, prevention measures and research, which continues today at more than 200 of the nation’s leading institutions. Sadly, we know this is life or death work, and we are proud to continue to support it, particularly in the face of the challenges presented by COVID-19.  

Eileen Howard Boone SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility & Philanthropy at CVS Health, President of CVS Health Foundation

Beginning this week, please join me in supporting the American Cancer Society at our nearly 10,000 CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide or online at cancer.org/cvsdonate . As we continue to work to respond to the most critical public health challenge in our lifetime – the COVID-19 pandemic – supporting organizations like the American Cancer Society is more important than ever.


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