What Cancer.Net does

Cancer.Net is a non-profit online health information platform founded in 2002 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. The platform provides cancer-related news, treatment guidance, survivorship resources, and decision-support content to patients, survivors, caregivers, and families across the United States to enable informed healthcare decisions. It operates within a broader cancer-fighting ecosystem associated with the American Cancer Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1913 that has invested $5.6 billion in cancer research since 1946 and reached 140 million+ lives through its programs in 2024 alone. The combined entity holds Morning Consult's Most Trusted Cancer Brand recognition, a Charity Navigator 4-star rating, BBB Accredited Charity status, and a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency.

The platform delivers content across the full cancer continuum from prevention, risk reduction, and early detection through diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Underlying technology includes a digital health information platform with AI-powered features for personalized cancer information and symptom assessment, the ACS CARES mobile application (Assessment, Response, Engagement, and Collaborative Support), and a 24/7 National Cancer Information Center contact center. Cancer information resources are available in 14+ languages through the cancer.org web property. Beyond information delivery, patient support services include the Road To Recovery volunteer driver program (950K+ rides in 2024), Hope Lodge free lodging facilities (540K+ free nights in 2024 across 300+ locations), and 2.8M+ cancer screenings facilitated in underserved communities.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit funding model spanning individual donations (monthly giving from $5/month), planned giving and philanthropy (charitable gift annuities, trusts, IRA rollovers, stock gifts), corporate sponsorships, and event-driven fundraising. Signature fundraising programs include Relay For Life (1.7M participants globally, $8B cumulative with Making Strides since 1985), Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (10M+ walkers since 1993, $594M cumulative), the Golf Classic series (91 events in 2024 raising $20M), and a portfolio of 170+ galas raising over $77M annually. Retail operations include Discovery Shops, an online store, and the Cars for a Cure vehicle donation program. Adjacent operating entities include Brightedge (a wholly-owned venture capital and impact investing subsidiary for cancer-focused startups) and ACS CAN (a 501(c)(4) advocacy affiliate).

Name

Cancer.Net

Legal name

American Cancer Society, Inc.

Website

https://cancer.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cancer.Net is a non-profit digital health information platform founded in 2002 that provides evidence-based cancer news, treatment guidance, and survivorship resources to patients, caregivers, survivors, and healthcare professionals across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Health Information

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Care Navigation, Advocacy & Benefits Guidance Platforms (HLALADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Patient Engagement, Education & Messaging Platforms (portal/CRM integrated) (HLALABAJ), Patient Portals & Self-Service Access (HLACAEAA)

Keywords

• Cancer information
• Patient education
• Oncology resources
• Health information
• Cancer support

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals supporting the ACS mission. Contributions are critical sources of mission funding and are not refundable. Monthly giving programs enable sustained donor engagement.
2. Signature Event Fundraising: Revenue generated through Relay For Life, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Golf Classic, galas, and DetermiNation endurance events. Ticket sales to events (galas, golf tournaments) are final and not refundable, with proceeds directed to mission activities.
3. Corporate Sponsorship and Partnerships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support for ACS events and programs. The gala program alone raises over $77 million annually through more than 170 elevated events. Sponsors receive brand visibility and purpose-driven engagement opportunities.
4. Planned Giving and Philanthropy: Charitable gift annuities, wills, trusts, and legacy giving programs. Donor advised funds, IRA charitable rollovers, and stock gifts provide additional giving vehicles for philanthropists.
5. Retail and Merchandise: ACS operates Discovery Shops, an online shop, event merchandise stores, greeting cards, and automotive donation programs (Cars for a Cure) that generate mission funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Cancer.Net is an online platform operated by the American Cancer Society that provides free, expert-reviewed cancer news, treatment information, and decision-support resources to patients, caregivers, and survivors. The platform delivers comprehensive content on cancer types, diagnosis, treatment options, side effects, and survivorship, available 24/7 in multiple languages. It is part of a broader patient-support ecosystem that includes a 24/7 helpline, peer communities, and referral to lodging and transportation services.

Product overview

The American Cancer Society (cancer.org) offers a comprehensive portfolio of cancer-related products and services designed to fight cancer through advocacy, research funding, and patient support. The core offering includes 24/7 Cancer Helpline and Cancer Information and Resources providing round-the-clock support and educational materials. Patient support services encompass Hope Lodge (free lodging), Road to Recovery (transportation), and ACS CARES peer support. The fundraising event portfolio includes Relay For Life, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, DetermiNation Endurance Series, Golf Classic, and Galas/Social Events. Research offerings include Extramural Discovery Science grants, Population Science studies (CPS-3, VOICES of Black Women), Cancer Statistics Center, and Cancer Atlas. ACS CAN provides advocacy services while Cancer Screening Guidelines offer evidence-based clinical recommendations. Together these products form an integrated ecosystem supporting prevention, detection, treatment, and survivorship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hope Lodge: Free lodging facilities for cancer patients receiving treatment away from home
• Road To Recovery
• Relay For Life
• Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
• DetermiNation
• ACS CARES
• ACS Golf Classic
• Cattle Baron's Balls
• Taste of Hope
• Shuck Cancer
• Fork Cancer
• 24/7 Cancer Helpline
• Cancer Atlas
• Cancer Statistics Center
• ACS CAN

Products and services

• Cancer.Net Patient Information Website
• 24/7 Cancer Helpline
• ACS CARES Application
• Cancer Statistics Center
• Cancer Atlas

Quantifiable outcome

• 140M+ lives touched in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• runDisneycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerACS has a partnership with runDisney covering 4 races in their season. DetermiNation athletes can join Team ACS at runDisney events as part of the endurance fundraising program.
• Motiv GroupsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Motiv Group for experiential races including Surf City Marathon, Long Beach Marathon, and Golden Gate Half Marathon. Motiv brings highly experiential race opportunities to the DetermiNation program.
• Abbott World Marathon MajorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerACS has a partnership with 6 of the 7 Abbott World Marathon Majors events. Interest forms are available for runners interested in these prestigious marathon events.
• BlackRockcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGary S. Shedlin, Vice Chairman of BlackRock, serves as an ACS volunteer and has partnered with ACS for over two decades, helping raise more than $11 million through family and corporate engagement.
• Cattle Baron's BallcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier western-themed gala events held across the country. ACS hosts Cattle Baron's Balls bringing together community leaders, donors, and supporters for fundraising events.
• Hope Lodge Healthcare System PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal healthcare systems partner with ACS Hope Lodge program to provide lodging assistance to their patients. ACS provides both facilities and grants to partner healthcare systems for patient lodging.
• Road To Recovery Healthcare PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS provides transportation grants to local healthcare systems to enable transportation assistance for their patients. Partner healthcare systems coordinate with ACS to offer ride programs.
• Coaches vs. CancersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports alliance partnership engaging coaches and athletic programs in the fight against cancer through fundraising events and awareness campaigns.
• Delta Air LinessecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerDelta has been a corporate partner supporting ACS through various initiatives including Relay For Life and other fundraising programs.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Cancer Institute (NCI): NCI is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training, operating Cancer.gov for patient information. NCI directly competes with ACS's Cancer Information and Cancer Statistics Center offerings while also funding extramural research similar to ACS's Discovery Science grants.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: MSK is a leading NCI-designated cancer hospital and research institution providing direct oncology care, conducting research, and publishing patient education content. Comparable as a cancer authority but with a clinical-care delivery model rather than a patient-support and fundraising focus.

Direct peers

• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS): LLS is a leading blood cancer nonprofit combining research funding, patient support services, advocacy, and large-scale signature fundraising events (Light The Night). Comparable to ACS in mission scope (research + patient services + advocacy) but narrowed to hematologic cancers.
• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO): ASCO is a peer oncology professional society that, through Cancer.Net, runs the leading oncologist-reviewed patient information site referenced in this company's short description. Both organizations publish cancer content, fund research, and support patients through overlapping content, navigation, and educational missions, making them highly comparable.
• V Foundation for Cancer Research: The V Foundation funds cancer research through grants and peer-reviewed awards with a donor-driven fundraising model anchored by its NCAA basketball tournament tie-ins. It is comparable as a high-profile cancer research nonprofit leveraging sports partnerships, though it does not deliver direct patient services.
• National Breast Cancer Foundation: NBCF provides early detection screening, patient navigation, and breast health education directly overlapping with ACS's breast cancer programming and Making Strides mission. It is a comparable cause-specific competitor for breast cancer donor dollars and patient mindshare.
• Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C): SU2C funds collaborative cancer research "Dream Teams" across institutions and runs entertainment-industry-driven televised fundraising specials. Comparable to ACS as a cancer research grantmaker but with a media-centric fundraising approach rather than community events.
• Susan G. Komen: Susan G. Komen is the largest breast cancer-focused nonprofit and runs signature fundraising walks (Race for the Cure) directly competing with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Both organizations blend research grants, patient navigation, advocacy, and event-based fundraising for a cancer-specific mission.
• Livestrong Foundation: Livestrong provides cancer survivorship navigation, one-on-one support, and online resources for patients post-diagnosis. Comparable as a cancer-support nonprofit serving patients and caregivers, though narrower in scope than ACS's research + advocacy trifecta.

Emerging players

• National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN): NCCN is an alliance of leading cancer centers publishing the authoritative oncology clinical practice guidelines and patient guidelines used across oncology care. Comparable to ACS's Cancer Screening Guidelines and provider-facing content, but operates as a provider consortium rather than a patient/donor nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CancerDotOrg
• Facebookfacebook.com/CancerDotNet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cancer-rehabilitation
• Instagraminstagram.com/americanlungasoc
• Xx.com/cancerdotnet

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cancer.Net