CRFA focuses its energies and resources on those cancers that can be prevented through lifestyle changes as well as those that can be detected and treated in their early stages. Founded in 1985 by Carolyn Aldig , the organization s commitment is fueled by the fact that certain cancers are preventable through lifestyle changes, yet more than 550,000 Americans die from the disease annually. The Foundation has provided funding to more than 200 scientists at more than 100 leading academic institutions across the country. When the Cancer Research Foundation of America first began its efforts 15 years ago, cancer prevention was not regarded as an important part of mainstream science. But today, prevention research is recognized as critical to the fight against cancer.
Investigations are ongoing across the country and enormous gains are being made.
The Cancer Research Foundation of America has played a pivotal role in instigating these critical changes. Through the Foundation s public education programs, thousands of men, women, and children in every state have received life-saving information about cancer, including prevention and early detection. The van provides free mammography screenings to medically underserved women in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Since it began in 1996, more than 6,500 women have received mammograms and 21 women have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The mammogram, performed by a licensed female radiological technologist, takes only fifteen minutes.