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Health Equity
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Patrick Dempsey joins efforts to “Change the Odds” against cancer

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Hear from people in rural areas affected by cancer in our new video series “Front Porch Conversations.” We have partnered with cancer community advocate and actor Patrick Dempsey to help shine a spotlight on the impact of cancer in these communities and the barriers they face in getting screened and navigating care, in support of the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Change the Odds™ initiative.
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I’ve seen the positive impact that timely care and support can have on someone’s cancer journey. But the fact is, too many people are getting left behind — especially those living in areas where healthcare resources are limited. They’re struggling just to get information about cancer and to get screened.”
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Patrick Dempsey
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Actor & cancer community advocate
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How we aim to “Change the Odds” for those facing disparities

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This series is part of a larger initiative from ACS sponsored by Pfizer called Change the Odds: Uniting to Improve Cancer Outcomes™.

This initiative aims to address cancer care disparities and improve health outcomes in underserved communities, including in rural areas, where people are more likely to receive a later-stage diagnosis and less likely to receive guideline-recommended care.1,2 Pfizer has committed $15 million to help Change the Odds.

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Dempsey’s personal mission for helping people with cancer

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Dempsey is invested in helping families affected by cancer because he himself was a caregiver. He saw up close how hard a cancer diagnosis can be for people and their families while supporting his mother Amanda through her 17-year fight with ovarian cancer.

This experience moved him to start The Dempsey Center, a non-profit that provides emotional and psychological support and a sense of community for people impacted by cancer in his home state of Maine.

Learn more about “Change the Odds” and our work with the American Cancer Society here:

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References
  1. Henley SJ, Anderson RN, Thomas CC, et al. Invasive cancer incidence, 2004-2013, and deaths, 2006-2015, in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan counties – United States. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2017;66(14):1-13. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/ss/ss6614a1.htm
  2. Yabroff KR, Han X, Zhao J, et al. Rural cancer disparities in the United States: a multilevel framework to improve access to care and patient outcomes. JCO Oncol Pract. 2020;16(7):409-413.