The last 50 years have been marked by significant advances in cancer research and in more effective therapy for patients. Once viewed as a largely untreatable, fatal disease, today a number of cancers are being converted into chronic diseases that can be managed for long periods of time. The result is that there are now nearly 14 million cancer survivors in the United States, compared to just 3 million in 1971. The Cancer Progress Timeline at the bottom of these pages gives a quick chronology of the history of cancer care and includes the work of some of the pioneers who have made pivotal contributions to advancing the ultimate goal of curing cancer. To view an interactive version of the timeline, visit ASCO’s CancerProgress.Net.

As a Society, ASCO has also progressed from its original seven founding members in 1964 to 35,000 members today. As ASCO commemorates its 50-year history at this year’s Annual Meeting, The ASCO Post presents reflections from some of the Society’s past Presidents on the evolution of the Society and the progress they have seen in cancer care.

• Building Bridges to Conquer Cancer
  Sandra M. Swain, MD
  ASCO President, 2012-2013
  

• Collaborating to Conquer Cancer
  Michael P. Link, MD
  ASCO President, 2011-2012

• The Promise of Genomics
  George W. Sledge, Jr, MD
  ASCO President, 2010-2011
  

• Personalizing Cancer Care
  Richard Schilsky, MD
  ASCO President, 2008–2009

• One Community
  Nancy E. Davidson, MD
  ASCO President, 2007–2008

• Multidisciplinary Interactions
  Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, MD, FACP
  ASCO President, 2006–2007

• Quality Cancer Care
  Margaret A. Tempero, MD
  ASCO President, 2003-2004

• Cancer Prevention
  Paul A. Bunn, Jr, MD
  ASCO President, 2002–2003

• Quality of Cancer Care
  Joseph S. Bailes, MD
  ASCO President, 1999–2000

• AACR–ASCO Transition
  George P. Canellos, MD
  ASCO President, 1993–1994

• Science vs Practice
  Bernard Fisher, MD
  ASCO President, 1992-1993

• Journal of Clinical Oncology
  Emil J. Freireich, MD
  ASCO President, 1980–1981

• The Consequence Is Cure
  Vincent T. DeVita, Jr, MD
  ASCO President, 1977–1978

• The Camaraderie of ASCO
  James F. Holland, MD
  ASCO President, 1976–1977