Volunteer advocates, including cancer survivors, patients, and caregivers from across Colorado convened at the state capitol for ‘Cancer Action Day’ Wednesday, an event hosted annually by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). Volunteer advocates met with lawmakers and discussed supporting access to care and sustaining funding for tobacco prevention and cessation.
During meetings with lawmakers, volunteers touted the 20 years of progress made because of Amendment 35, first approved by Colorado voters in 2004 and enacted in January 2005. The amendment allowed for increased taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products. Since then, funds collected from the tax have been designated to programs to prevent teens from starting to use tobacco and help those who are addicted, quit.
Funds collected from the tax also go towards health services like the Women’s Wellness Connection which provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings for women who qualify. The program currently services women more than 100 clinics across the state.
“Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Coloradans impacted by cancer and their partnership is vital in fighting this disease,” said R.J. Ours, ACS CAN Colorado Government Relations Director. “Voters made their voices heard 20-years ago by approving Amendment 35. And five years ago by approving Proposition EE. ACS CAN wants to ensure the currently prescribed allocation of funds is sustained and progress in the fight against tobacco use in our state is not undone.”
Approximately 86% of lung cancers in the United States are caused by smoking, according to American Cancer Society researchers. Over 24% of cancer deaths in Colorado can be attributed to smoking.
In addition to advocating for tobacco prevention, volunteer advocates also spoke with lawmakers about the importance of leveling the playing field when it comes to increasing access to biomarker testing. Biomarker testing is an important step to accessing precision medicine and targeted therapies, which can improve quality of life and survivorship.
Colorado lawmakers passed a bill during the 2024 session to require state-regulated private health insurance to cover biomarker testing when supported by scientific and medical evidence. The bill, however, did not include Medicaid, so Coloradans covered by the program will not benefit from the save level of access to this game changing testing. As a result, not all Coloradans may benefit from the latest advancements in biomarker testing and precision medicine.
Nearly 60% of all cancer drugs approved in the last five years require or recommend biomarker testing before use.
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2025, more than 29,000 Coloradans will be newly diagnosed with cancer, with more than 8,600 expected to die from the disease, a slight increase from 2024. The cancer mortality rate nationwide continues to decline, however alarming inequities in rates persist, most notably among Native American and Black people.
To assess your cancer risk, use the American Cancer Society’s new comprehensive cancer risk assessment tool, CancerRisk360. The tool provides individuals with an accessible, easy first step to prevent and detect cancer by offering a better understanding of several factors that impact a person’s individual risk.