WASHINGTON, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- To address the unmet public need for understandable and credible information about cancer research and policy, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is introducing a new magazine for cancer patients, survivors, advocates, caregivers and interested physicians and scientists.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060330/DCTH056 )
The new quarterly publication, CR -- a magazine about people and progress in cancer, was launched at AACR’s Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, where more than 16,000 leading scientists and physicians are gathering to hear about the latest findings in research and treatment.
The magazine has a distinctive mission: to strengthen collaborations and communications among cancer survivors, patient advocates, physicians and scientists with a goal of accelerating the prevention and cure of cancer. CR will provide credible, easy-to-understand content about developments in cancer research as well as a responsive forum about cancer advocacy, policy and survivorship issues.
The AACR is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and is recognized in the scientific community for its peer-reviewed journals and programs. CR marks AACR’s commitment to share important information with the general public, and specifically cancer patients, survivors, advocates, caregivers, community healthcare providers and researchers.
“There are more than 10 million cancer survivors in the United States and 1.4 million will be diagnosed this year,” said Margaret Foti, PhD, M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the AACR. “They want to know about the progress being made in the disease. Our members work tirelessly to find ways to prevent and cure cancer and to test better treatments,” Dr. Foti added. “CR is the perfect vehicle to bring these important groups together and to address the information needs of everyone who is dedicated to making progress, across all cancer types.”
From its conceptualization, to its reach and to the cover photograph of the premiere issue, CR differentiates itself from existing magazines and websites for cancer patients and survivors.
Collaborative Mission
The magazine is edited by Gwen Darien, a cancer survivor, advocate and public speaker, who previously edited a consumer magazine dedicated to women’s cancers. The cornerstone of CR’s mission of collaboration is an editorial board comprised of an equal number of advocates/survivors and physicians/scientists. These respected members of the cancer community contribute their expertise and perspectives to guide and enrich the content of the magazine.
“Everyone on the team for the magazine has a deep and personal commitment to create an inclusive publication which promotes collaborations that lead to results for cancer patients and survivors,” said Ms. Darien. “Our goal is to connect all groups of people who are personally affected by cancer, caring for patients or working toward preventing and curing the disease.” CR’s distinct mission also includes a commitment to reaching and emphasizing the needs of the medically underserved.
The gatefold cover photograph of the premiere issue also illustrates the magazine’s focus. Sixteen cancer survivors, aged 6 through 71, from all walks of life came together to be photographed, to tell their stories and to express their hopes and visions for progress in cancer research. “The cover came out of our brainstorming about how to convey the cross-cancer focus, that cancer doesn’t discriminate and affects us all, and that our responses to a cancer diagnosis are not universal and change over time,” explained Ms. Darien. “The photographs and stories in CR show the range of emotions and experiences that make up a life with cancer -- warmth, community, sadness, strength and thoughtfulness.”
CR distinguishes itself through its high-quality design and production. The cover photograph was taken by Neil Selkirk, a New York-based photographer who is renowned for photographs of people. Yolanda Cuomo, the magazine’s creative director, has received awards for her work with leading publishers, artists and photographers. Jessica Gorman, the deputy editor, has extensive experience as a science and medical writer and editor.
Like Ms. Darien, everyone on the magazine’s editorial and creative team has been personally touched by cancer, either through their own diagnoses or as a caregiver or through the loss of a close family member.
CR will be published quarterly, with two single-topic issues planned during its first year. A charter subscription drive is underway, targeting paid subscribers. For further information, please go to http://www.crmagazine.org
“Over the past several years, we have seen exciting developments in cancer research and a burgeoning of cancer information over the internet and in the news, some of it confusing to patients,” Dr. Foti concluded. “There remained a gap in understandable information about the progress in cancer research. We want CR to put a human face on cancer research.”
Extension of AACR’s Survivor and Patient Advocacy Program
CR is an extension of AACR’s existing programs for patients and survivors, including a program at the Annual Meeting that matches patient advocates with scientist mentors. In November 2004, AACR became the first cancer research organization to establish a stand-alone department dedicated to fostering partnerships among the cancer survivor, patient advocacy and scientific communities.
ABOUT AACR
Founded in 1907, AACR is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization devoted to cancer research. Its members include more than 24,000 basic, translational and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and survivors and patient advocates in the United States and more than 60 other countries. As a leader in cancer research, the AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of its members from the cancer community at large to accelerate advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060330/DCTH056AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.orgAP PhotoExpress Network: PRN12PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comAmerican Association for Cancer Research
CONTACT: Cindy Geoghegan, cell: +1-203-858-8288, cindy@geogheganmail.com,for American Association for Cancer Research; or Karen Russell of AmericanAssociation for Cancer Research, +1-215-440-9300, cell: +1-215-779-7527,russell@aacr.org
Web site: http://www.crmagazine.org/
