New Hampshire Virtual Cancer Action Week

Welcome to our Virtual Cancer Action Week on February 22nd-25th, 2022. Together from every corner of New Hampshire we will ask lawmakers to stand up to Big Tobacco and improve cancer patient access to the best treatment options available. 

The Asks

1. Support HB 1290, legislation that will study innovative biomarker testing for cancer patients?

• Biomarker testing is increasingly important for cancer care – and for the treatment of other diseases.

• Biomarker testing is important step for accessing precision medicine including targeted therapies that can lead to improved survivorship and better quality of life for cancer patients.

• Marginalized communities including communities of color, individuals with lower socioeconomic status, rural communities, and those receiving care in non-academic medical centers are less likely to receive biomarker testing.

• A study like this will bring together leading experts from across the health care continuum and affords legislators and the public to engage in a public forum on a critical need in our state

1. Vote no on SB 314 - Modified Risk Tobacco Tax Reduction, to not give a bailout to Big Tobacco

• There is no such thing as a safe tobacco product

• Not using tobacco is the most preventable way to avoid cancer

• Increasing tobacco taxes is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, especially among kids, and tobacco companies know it. Lowering the tax, and therefore the price of tobacco products is one major way for the tobacco industry to protect their bottom line, addict people with cheap products, and keep them addicted.

• SB 314 unnecessarily complicates our current tobacco tax structure to benefit Big Tobacco, not NH.

How you can participate

• Hear from a researcher- Register to join us on Tuesday, February 22nd at 6PM to hear from featured speaker on biomarkers and cancer - Erika L Moen, MS, PhD - Assistant Professor of Biomedical Data Science and Assistant Professor of The Dartmouth Institute

• Send a message to lawmakers - Ask your lawmakers to support a $1 million increase in tobacco control program funding and support repealing youth tobacco possession and purchase penalties? Send a message here 

• Share your story - Biomarker testing helps connect cancer patients with the most effective targeted treatments for their cancer – leading to improved survivorship and better quality of life. Have you benefitted from this type of testing? Sharing your story can help other patients benefit.

• Follow us on Facebook - Share our posts throughout the day to ask your friends and family to take action. Facebook.com/ACSCANNH

• Invite your friends to join us - Tell everyone you know about Cancer Action Day and invite them to take part. The more people participating the louder message we will send to lawmakers. Find three people that will committ to take action and share the link to this page. 

Materials:

2022 New Hampshire Priorities

Biomarker Testing - Advancing Precision Medicine in Cancer Care

Health Equity in Biomarker Testing and Targeted Theraphy