Public Policy Topics

Research has shown that patients with cancer and cancer survivors are at increased risk of severe illness and death if they are infected with COVID-19. In several states, AACI cancer centers are leading an effort to prioritize these vulnerable populations for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Federal grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) support cancer research in every state, accelerating discoveries in prevention, early detection, treatment, and care.

Taking note of the positive impact of cancer research funding for patients as well as its role in job creation and economic growth, many states have created their own funding initiatives to support biomedical research.

Clinical trials are the bedrock of discovery for promising cancer treatments, and even cures. Without proper access for underrepresented populations, health care disparities persist. Recognizing this, some states have taken action to toward coverage of routine care during clinical trials for all.

Over 33,000 cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV)—including oropharyngeal, cervical, anal, vulvar, penile, and vaginal cancers—are diagnosed annually among men and women in the United States alone.

Through gender-neutral vaccination and evidence-based screening and treatment, the U.S. is poised to eliminate cervical cancer, with other HPV-related cancers to follow.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death. Tobacco-related diseases, including lung cancer, are responsible for 480,000 deaths each year in the United States.

Many states are raising the age to purchase tobacco products to 21, but the widespread availability of vaping products and their popularity among young people present new challenges to legislators.

The Cancer Patients’ Bill of Rights is a first-of-its-kind measure outlining the rights that every patient with cancer deserves, including access to specialists, clinical trials, and innovative new treatments.