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Letter: Preventing cancer

For the Monitor

Friday, February 8, 2013

Thank you, Gov. Maggie Hassan, Rep. Tom Sherman and Sen. Nancy Stiles for calling attention to the ways we can reduce the incidence and mortality of cancer in New Hampshire by proclaiming Feb. 4 as Cancer Prevention Day.

As Sherman noted in his Feb. 4. letter to the Monitor, doing what we know works – conduct appropriate cancer screening, prevent tobacco use, avoid tanning, be more active and maintain a healthy weight – will prevent cancer in some cases and reduce deaths from cancer in others.

The New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Collaboration, comprised of over 200 individuals and community partners, has been working to eliminate cancer as a health problem in New Hampshire for many years. The New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan is a blueprint for how to accomplish this goal. Visit nhcancerplan.org to see the plan and to learn about the work of the collaboration. During February, National Cancer Prevention Month, and throughout the year, all collaboration members stand ready to assist the governor and Legislature in making the goal of eliminating cancer in New Hampshire a reality.

NANCY KANE

Concord

(The writer is board chairwoman of the New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Collaboration.)

Lesscancer wrote:
15/02/2013

Less Cancer a program of Next Generation Choices Foundation founded Cancer Prevention day February 4th in individual states that include Virginia, Michigan and now New Hampshire. In both 2012 and 2013 Congressman Steve Israel, Co-Chairman of the Cancer Caucus in the House introduced the resolution that had 19 co-sponsors this year. This is what Congressman Israel had to say “There are far too many who have been touched by cancer, both directly or indirectly. Today, on National Cancer Prevention Day, we commit ourselves to prevention and reducing our risks as much as possible through healthy lifestyles and clean environments. Less Cancer has been a true partner in this fight, and I applaud them for that.” Cancer Prevention Day and National Cancer Prevention Day serves to remind people that when looking at cancer they need to look at prevention and reducing risks for human health and the environment. It also serves as a reminder to lawmakers that when we speak about including prevention in the cancer conversation that they too consider consequences for both human health and the environment. I am especially proud of the work for Cancer Prevention Day as it is one of the few if not the only that is all about the public interest. There are no sponsors or marketing opportunities to create conflicted messages and the intention is purely for Less Cancer -as in less incidences of cancer. Our concern of course are increased incidences of cancer. Bill Couzens, Founder Less Cancer -Next Generation Choices Foundation

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