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What we are doing

The Canadian Cancer Society works with government to bring about healthy public policies that will help prevent cancer and improve the lives of people living with cancer and their caregivers.
  1. Home
  2. Get involved
  3. Advocacy
  4. What we are doing

Why we take action

Everything we do is with the goal of preventing people from getting cancer, helping people with cancer to survive longer, and improving their quality of life.

Where we take action

We take action and advocate for Canadians across all levels of government, local, provincial territorial and federal. 

How we take action

By taking a stand on important cancer issues, raising Canadians awareness and influencing the government to change the future of cancer in Canada.

A doctor looks at a document with their patient.

Cancer clinical trials action plan

Clinical trials are about today. For people facing cancer and their families, the time to act is now. 
Read the action plan now
A doctor talking to patient and showing a large intestine model

Access to colorectal cancer screening

Colorectal cancer is rising sharply in younger adults. Lowering the colorectal cancer screening age to 45 will help catch cancers sooner and improve health outcomes among younger adults.
Learn more about access to colorectal cancer screening
Three older women jogging together in a park on a sunny day.

Access to breast cancer screening

Equitable and timely access to breast screening is important to find breast cancers early when chances of successful treatment are better.
Learn more about access to breast cancer screening
Two people are sitting outdoors, talking and smiling at each other.

Palliative care

Canadians should have access to affordable, high-quality palliative care, regardless of where they live or choose to receive care.
Learn more about palliative care
Patient and healthcare professional reviewing something on a tablet

Cervical cancer

Eliminating cervical cancer in Canada is within reach – but will require continued commitment and sustained efforts from all provinces and territories to keep prevention moving forward.
Send a letter
Person looking at test results with their doctor

Prostate cancer

Canadians should have equitable access to the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for early detection of prostate cancer and for the medications a diagnosis often requires without having to pay out of pocket, regardless of where they live in Canada. 
Learn more about access to PSA testing
Woman breaking a cigarette

Tobacco control

Policies that promote smoking reduction and tobacco control help lower tobacco use, the leading preventable cause of disease and death in Canada.
Learn more about tobacco control
A group of happy women drinking water around a table.

Alcohol policy

Canada should have policies that increase awareness about the risk of alcohol-related cancer and reduce alcohol consumption.
Learn what we're doing with alcohol policy
Person in safety gear is inspecting the exterior of a modern building

Radon

Canadians need to know that the places they live, work, and play are safe.
Improve national radon safety
A woman sitting at her laptop compute

Job-protected leave

Canadians deserve to have their jobs protected while they take necessary time off to receive and recover from cancer treatment.
Learn more about job-protected leave
An elderly couple in a kitchen preparing a salad with fresh vegetables.

Healthy living

Policies that support healthy living can make a real difference to reduce individual cancer risk.
Learn more about healthy living
Doctor answering a patient’s questions

Health system funding

Governments must work together and invest in our healthcare to ensure people get the care they need when they need it.
The importance of health system funding

Be a voice for change

Join our network of advocates who are committed to preventing cancer and improving the lives of people affected by cancer through government action. By adding your voice, you help strengthen advocacy efforts that influence decisions impacting cancer care and support.

Become an advocate

Help amplify the voices of people affected by cancer

Changing public policy is one of the most effective tools for preventing cancer and helping those affected by it.

With just $5 from people like you, we can continue to connect government decision-makers with thousands of patients and caregivers to make cancer care better, everywhere in Canada.

If everyone reading this gave just $5, we could achieve our goal this month to fund transformative advocacy, the most promising research, and reliable cancer information and support. Please give today. Thank you.