The Arizona Department of Health and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network recently released a new action plan to address cancer throughout the state.
Cassie Webb, who manages the state’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, said the plan sets specific goals, like boosting cancer screenings and enhancing care.
“There's cost related data, there's health disparities, specific data for cancer types, there's social vulnerability index data throughout the plan,” said Webb. “And including that information helps us and our partners think about cancer from different perspectives.”
She said they’re leaning on the many "boots on the ground" partners in rural communities and other underserved areas who made the plan possible to also make it effective.
“It's not really a one size fits all solution,” Webb said. “And that's where it's important to work with folks in the communities that are the experts, that can relate to the patients or potential patients that we're trying to get through to.”
The letter of support from Gov. Katie Hobbs at the top of the plan, she added, puts some serious energy behind it, especially when it comes to the policy goals laid out.
“It's the first time that this support has been included in the plan,” she said.
The plan, she said, also focuses on providing access to resources, information and help for patients to advocate for themselves.
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