Since the signing of the National Cancer Act in 1971, major milestones have been reached in the care and treatment of people with cancer. This progress reflects advances in every area of cancer care: prevention, screening, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and supportive care for side effects.

Research—in the form of clinical trials—serves as the vital link that translates discoveries in the laboratory to new treatments that improve and extend the lives of people with cancer. Today, there are about 12 million cancer survivors in the United States. However, much more work needs to be done. More than 1.5 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year.

CancerProgress.Net: Explore this free ASCO website, CancerProgress.Net, which highlights the progress made in clinical cancer research over the past four decades. This is a data-rich, interactive resource that provides a visual, multimedia history of advances in cancer treatment and prevention.

Progress Against Cancer Timeline: Download a free PDF that traces the pace of progress in a number of cancer types.

Clinical Cancer Advances Report: View this annual report for detailed information about the most significant discoveries in cancer research each year since 2005.

ASCO's Blueprint for Accelerating Progress Against Cancer: Read ASCO's detailed prescription for transforming clinical cancer research in the United States and speeding the creation of new therapies for patients (PDF).

Clinical Trials: Learn more about how important research studies are to the pace of progress against cancer.

Public Policy Advocacy and ASCO: Find out information about timely policy issues involving cancer, including the nation's investment in clinical trials.