An estimated 30,990 Maryland residents will hear the words "You have cancer," this year alone. But, if state lawmakers take critical preventive measures now, they could keep thousands of people from hearing those same words in the future. Increasing funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs and restricting the use of indoor tanning beds to minors under 18 are just a couple of the proven methods that help reduce suffering and death from cancer. By supporting these and other evidence-based policy measures, lawmakers could save lives and money in Maryland.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) released its annual report this month illustrating where states stand on policies to prevent and better treat cancer. How Do You Measure Up? A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality shows that by passing proven cancer-fighting laws and policies, we can save lives, save health care dollars and create a legacy of better health for Maryland residents
As an oncologist, I can attest to the tremendous progress we've made in diagnosing and treating cancer. But Maryland legislators must take advantage of the opportunities to leverage this progress by passing evidence-based laws and policies that are proven to save lives and money.
How Do You Measure Up? evaluates states on 10 key policy areas: cigarette tax rates, smoke-free laws, access to tobacco cessation services in Medicaid, tobacco prevention and cessation program funding, tanning device restrictions for minors, breast and cervical cancer early detection program funding, increased access to Medicaid, access to palliative care, balanced policies to prevent and treat pain, and oral chemotherapy fairness legislation.
Maryland earned green ratings, which shows that the state has adopted evidence-based policies and best practices, in half these categories. It also earned three yellow ratings, indicating moderate movement toward the benchmark. But the state was deemed to be falling short with red ratings in the areas of tobacco prevention funding and restricting the use of indoor tanning beds.
I am proud that two of Maryland's largest counties — Howard and Montgomery — have taken the initiative to pass local ordinances that protect our youth from the hazards of indoor tanning. And, I am hopeful that the state will soon follow their lead in this regard. But, given that tobacco remains the number one preventable cause of death in our state, I am perplexed by our legislators' reluctance to more robustly fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
Comprehensive, adequately funded tobacco control programs reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related disease and thereby, they reduce tobacco-related health care costs. It's that simple. Maryland is spending $8.7 million annually on tobacco prevention, which is only 18 percent of what the Centers for Disease Control recommends for a state of this size. It's also a small fraction of the $134.4 million that the tobacco industry spends in this state each year to promote its products.
As a physician, I've worked relentlessly to treat my patients and educate them about what they need to do to stay healthy. Likewise, as an advocate, I've talked with my elected officials about ways to prevent and treat cancer. The time has come for our state and local policymakers to step up and implement proven state policies and programs to prevent cancer. Lives are depending on them.
Dr. Robert Brookland is chair of Radiation Oncology at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and a volunteer with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. His email is RBROOKLAND@gbmc.org.