AICR advocates for increased access to and insurance coverage for lifestyle interventions, particularly those tailored to fit the unique needs of cancer survivors.
By 2026, the number of cancer survivors is expected to rise to nearly 20.3 million. These survivors have unique physiological and psychological needs, and evidence shows that lifestyle interventions can help with many facets of their care both during treatment and after treatment.
How We Are Taking Action
Our Grant Program
Since our inception, AICR’s grant program has funded nearly $110 million in cancer research. Many of those grants have focused on how lifestyle can impact cancer survivorship and risk of recurrence. Through increasing the evidence base on how exercise and nutrition can impact survivors, we hope to strengthen our advocacy for access to these programs for this population. AICR is also advising research conducted by Tufts University and The Ohio State University researchers aimed at testing the impact of a nutrition intervention on vulnerable lung cancer patients.
The Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2020
AICR supports the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act, a bill that extends coverage for medical nutrition therapy by Registered Dietitians (RDs/RDNs) for individuals with chronic diseases including cancer. In May 2021, this bill was reintroduced in the 117th Congress as S. 1536/H.R. 3108. We will continue to monitor this bill and advocate for its passage.
Moving Through Cancer
AICR supports the Moving Through Cancer initiative of the American College of Sports Medicine, which is focused on making appropriate exercise and rehabilitation programming part of the standard of care for people living with and beyond cancer. AICR is involved with developing a roadmap to achieve these goals and will continue to work towards their execution.
