Cancer continues to touch millions of lives across the United States each year. The American Cancer Society projects that approximately 2,114,850 new cancer cases and 618,120 cancer deaths will occur in 2026. Breast cancer remains one of the most common forms of the disease; it accounts for roughly one in three new cancer diagnoses among women.
Those figures represent far more than medical diagnoses. Behind every patient are family members, caregivers, employers, friends, and communities whose lives are also affected by treatment, recovery, uncertainty, and loss. According to Leslie Smith, co-founder of Anchors, those broader support needs often receive less attention despite playing an important role throughout the cancer journey. That perspective helped shape the mission of Anchors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers through practical assistance and community resources.
