NCCS represents the millions of Americans who live with, through and beyond a cancer diagnosis. But the cancer experience is not the same for everyone. Gains in cancer survival due to advances in treatment and screening are not shared by all who are diagnosed with cancer. Outcomes vary significantly based on a number of factors, including race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health insurance status, and geographic location. According to researchers from the American Cancer Society, a quarter of the approximately 600,000 annual cancer deaths in the United States could be prevented if everyone had access to the same prevention, screening, and treatment.

NCCS works on policy efforts to address health equity and reducing disparities in outcomes. The problem of health equity is complex, as some of the factors that lead to inequity are deeply rooted in social determinants of health and systemic and institutional barriers. Many of the policies that would improve access to care  would contribute to reducing disparities. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), including its expansion of Medicaid, has reduced disparities in access to care and mortality rates, compared to states that chose not to expand Medicaid.