American Cancer Society marks 100th year with one goal - to finish the fight against cancer

One hundred years ago today, the American Cancer Society was founded by 15 prominent physicians and business leaders in New York City. First known as the American Society for the Control of Cancer, the organization launched the fight against a disease that was feared as a death sentence at the time. A century later, the American Cancer Society, now the nation's largest voluntary health organization, observes 100 years of progress – this year alone saw a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates since the 1990s according to the Society's latest Cancer Facts & Figures, that translates to more than one million cancer deaths avoided during that span – more birthdays celebrated. The Society is marking the occasion by pledging to finish the fight against cancer in the next century. Read more here.