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.
How We Are Taking Action
Our Grant Program
AICR’s grant program has funded more than $109 million in cancer research since our inception. 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 ask for access to these programs for this population. AICR is also supporting research conducted by Tufts University and 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
In 2020, AICR signed on in support of the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2020, a bill spearheaded by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which extends coverage for medical nutrition therapy by Registered Dietitians (RDs/RDNs) for individuals with chronic diseases such as obesity, , cancer, and more. 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.
