ACS CAN joins the nation in mourning the loss of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter

ACS CAN shared a post on LinkedIn:

“We join the nation in mourning the loss of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

A cancer survivor, President Carter advocated for the fight against cancer during his administration, including supporting an extension of the mandate passed in the National Cancer Act to intensify and expand the national effort to fight cancer, signing legislation to emphasize education and demonstration programs in cancer treatment and prevention, and charging the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to devote more resources to prevention.

“A tremendous advocate for cancer education and prevention in the United States, President Carter helped accelerate progress against the more than 200 diseases we call cancer during his time in office,” says Dr. Wayne Frederick, interim CEO of the American Cancer Society and ACS CAN.

“Upon receiving his own cancer diagnosis, he benefitted from that progress, undergoing innovative treatment methods made possible by cancer research funded by both the federal government and the American Cancer Society, among others. We extend our deepest condolences to the Carter family and friends at the loss of this American treasure.”

Read the full statement.”

Lisa A. Lacasse, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), shared this post on LinkedIn, adding:

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Carter family and join the nation in mourning the loss of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. At American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), we honor his legacy as a champion in the fight against cancer. As a cancer survivor and an advocate for cancer education and prevention, President Carter played a significant role in accelerating progress against cancer.

During President Carter’s administration, he supported an extension of the mandate passed in the National Cancer Act to strengthen and expand the national fight against cancer. He also signed legislation to emphasize education and demonstration programs in cancer treatment and prevention and directed the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to devote more resources to prevention. May his legacy and commitment to advancing legislation for cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones continue to endure.”

Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.), the thirty-ninth president of the United States, was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, and raised in the nearby community of Archery. His father, James Earl Carter, Sr., was a farmer and businessman, while his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, was a registered nurse.

Carter was educated in the public schools of Plains, then attended Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology before earning a B.S. degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. In the Navy, he served as a submariner in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, attaining the rank of lieutenant.

Lisa A. Lacasse, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), has an impactful leadership in healthcare advocacy. Leading ACS CAN’s nationwide public policy advocacy agenda with her oversight of a dedicated team in Washington, D.C., she ensures effective advocacy efforts at the highest levels. Beyond her role at ACS CAN, Lacasse’s commitment to public health extends to serving on the board for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.