Funding needed to fight cancer

By Jennifer Nordstrom, Las Vegas

Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 | 2 a.m.

In the last two decades, we have seen a 25 percent drop in the cancer death rate. But our work is not complete. Research suggests that roughly half of all cancer deaths can be prevented if we avoid tobacco, get physical activity, eat a healthy diet and get regular, recommended cancer screenings. To do this, people need access to services that help them quit tobacco, get exercise and access the care they need.

That’s where lawmakers come in. Our local and state policymakers play a crucial role in the fight against cancer by passing laws that help reduce the toll of the disease — which will claim an estimated 4,700 lives in Nevada this year alone.

Nevada has made progress (but still has a way to go to change cancer rates and outcomes) on legislative efforts to combat cancer, according to American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s 15th annual report.

The report evaluates each state’s legislative activity on issues such as access to care, cancer prevention and tobacco control. Nevada only measured up in four of nine critical benchmarks measured in the report.

To improve the state’s efforts to prevent and fight the devastating effects of cancer, Nevada lawmakers need to provide adequate funding for tobacco-control efforts.

State policymakers must act now. We cannot miss opportunities to enact policies that could save money and, most importantly, save lives.

The author is an American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteer.