The American Cancer Action Network has released its annual report discussing how each of the 50 states are measuring up with legislative activity to reduce cancer and deaths. In the United States today, there are over 14 million cancer survivors and 400 more lives are being saved daily than a decade ago! The cancer rate has dropped 20% in the last 20 years! But, we are not done!
- 1.6 million individuals in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer
- 4,500 individuals will be diagnosed daily
- 580,000 individuals will lose their battle
Research shows that if everyone were to quit tobacco, exercise regularly, eat a healthful diet, achieve and maintain a healthy weight, and get recommended cancer screenings, a substantial portion of all cancer deaths could be prevented.
For the last 12 years, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network has released a report for state legislators on how to save more lives from cancer. How Do You Measure Up? provides an outline of how states are doing on critical public health measures that can reduce cancer diagnoses and deaths!
In 2014, about 67,000 people in Ohio will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 25,000 will die of the disease.
Cancer hits close to home – in 2013 Don was one of those people diagnosed with cancer. In 2013, his mom was one of those people who died from cancer.
But, there are simple things you and our leaders can do to reduce cancer diagnoses and death!
Things such as raising taxes on cigarettes, requiring more time in gym for our school children, passing no-smoking laws, and proving free or subsidized screenings! It really is simple.
Ohio is not doing too hot on their measurements. We do have state-wide smoke-free laws, as well as Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation.
However, we are not making adequate progress on cigarette tax rates, pain policies, and access to palliative care in the state of Ohio.
Even more alarming is that we are falling short on tobacco tax and price increases, tobacco prevention funding, tobacco rating restrictions, and indoor tanning device restrictions. And, closer to my heart and home… we are lacking in physical education time requirements and breast & cervical cancer early detection programs.
You want to see something scary? Click here to see the time requirements for physical education in the various states. A red fill means that state requires less than 90 minutes of physical education or does not require physical education AT ALL. There is a lot of red on that chart. (Note: this is based on states as a whole, your local school district might be meeting the recommendations.)
Since 1990, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program has served 4.5 million women, provided more than 11 million screening exams, and diagnosed more than 62,000 breast cancers, 3,400 cervical cancers, and 163,500 premalignant cervical lesions in uninsured and under-insured low-income women in the United States.
There is still work to be done. I encourage you to see how your state is doing and read more on what is being and can be done about cancer prevention and treatment.
With 1.6 million people being diagnosed with cancer in the United States this year – chances are, it will touch close to home.
This post was written for social good. All information and graphics used with permission. No compensation was received in exchange for this post.