A recent poll by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) shows 83% of Ohio voters believe all Americans, regardless of the type of health insurance they have, should have access to affordable cancer screening and treatment close to home. Further, nearly all Ohio voters- 91%- believe that healthcare policies should make it easier—not harder—for people to get the care they need. These are numbers that our elected officials and candidates for office should pay attention to.
Roughly 60% of Ohio candidates for federal office have signed ACS CAN’s Cancer Promise and pledged to prioritize robust investments in cancer research and prevention, improve access to affordable healthcare and ensure access to cancer prevention and early detection services, including tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Having so many candidates sign the Cancer Promise has been encouraging, but as someone whose life has been touched by cancer, I want to see all Ohio candidates seeking federal office sign.
These commitments matter because cancer continues to affect far too many Ohio families. This year alone in Ohio, 78,080 people will hear the words, “You have cancer,” and 24,590 Ohioans will die from Cancer. Behind every statistic is a person. A parent, spouse, child, friend or neighbor.
The fight against cancer will not be won in research labs alone. Elected officials make decisions every day about health issues that affect the lives of cancer patients and their families. We know what needs to be done to save more lives from cancer, but we cannot be successful unless policymakers act to adequately fund cancer research and guarantee access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare.
I know firsthand how important these investments are. I lost my wife Betsy to cancer, and even though being in a clinical trial didn’t save her life, it prolonged it, giving us more time. I also take solace in the fact that the information garnered from her during the trial was able to advance the clinical trial, which will have an impact on other families.
Cancer research is key to advancing new standards of care and bringing hope to patients facing diagnoses that may once have had few treatment options. Still, funding research is only half the battle. To benefit from new treatments, people need to be able to access the health care system. Access to quality, comprehensive health coverage is critical for cancer patients and survivors. Research shows individuals without health coverage are more likely to receive a cancer diagnosis at a later, more costly stage and are more likely to die from the disease.
That is why Ohio voters should know where their candidates stand on these issues before they head to the polls. Fighting cancer should not be a partisan issue. It should be a shared commitment to protecting our families and investing in a healthier future. Ohioans can visit www.cancervotes.org to find out if your candidates have signed the Cancer Promise and learn more about where candidates stand on cancer-related priorities. Voters have the opportunity and the responsibility to ask candidates how they will help fight cancer. Then, once the votes are counted, Ohioans should hold the winners accountable for the commitments they made to patients, survivors and families affected by cancer.
Vince Marchetta
National Board Member - American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network