NJ`s Cancer Mortality Rate Drops

With the release of this year’s Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer 1975-2000, Governor McGreevey strengthened his personal commitment to make New Jersey a national leader in cancer care and research.

“From the beginning days of my Administration, I made it clear that I am personally committed and determined to winning the battle against this formidable foe. We are making progress in New Jersey day by day -- it is welcomed news to hear that our cancer death rate is declining, said McGreevey. “My Administration is working hard to see to it that our health care institutions, pharmaceutical companies, world-class scientists and researchers help lead the nation toward the eradication of cancer.”

Released by the National Cancer Institute, the report showed that death rates from the four most common cancers - lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal - continued to decline in the late 1990s and that for all cancers combined, the death rate began to stabilize in the late 1990s. Although the national average has leveled off, New Jersey’s cancer death rate dropped by 1.3 percent – showing the results of early detection and more efficient intervention, screening and treatment.

Even with the State’s recent progress, it is estimated that approximately 41,000 new cases will be in New Jersey alone. Additionally, the American Cancer Society estimated that nearly 18,000 New Jerseyans died as a result of cancer in 2002.

The report also stated that further reductions in cancer are possible, but will require strong federal, state, local, and private partnerships. New data from the states also highlights the need for improved delivery of quality cancer care, as well as the development of more effective treatment and screening strategies.

“Some may say that in these times of fiscal constraint the costs of action are too great -- I say the cost of inaction is far greater,” McGreevey said.

Despite budget shortfalls of historic levels, the Governor has made the fight against cancer a top priority for New Jersey. The state provided $20 million to The Cancer Institute of New Jersey for cancer care and research in FY ’03. In FY’ 04, the Administration provided an additional $18 million to the Cancer Institute of New Jersey as well as $5 million to the Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s South Jersey Initiative. This funding marks the first time in New Jersey history that state government is providing direct support for scientists working toward a cure for cancer.

The state’s commitment to The Cancer Institute of New Jersey is one of several initiatives underway to combat cancer in the Garden State:

New Jersey Cancer Trial Connect is a website (www.njctc.org) allowing users to search for cancer clinical trials that provide patients with access to the most promising information about innovative clinical research trials to these cancer patients, their families and healthcare professionals

* In January 2003, the state released its first Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan, a blueprint to control cancer in New Jersey over the next five years. In the last two fiscal years the McGreevey Administration has allocated $4.55 million toward implementing the plan’s recommendations.

* The state is providing $1 million to the New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research for its initiatives.

* In addition to forming the Task Force on Cancer Clusters in New Jersey, the Department of Health and Senior Services has been allocated $500,000 to support efforts related to cancer clusters investigations.

* The Department of Health and Senior Services is providing cancer education and screening services for women and men in all 21 counties.

* New Jersey’s Cancer Registry is tracking trends in cancer incidence to provide more information about childhood cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and cancer among older adults.

* And in April leading scientists, researchers and physicians from throughout the nation gathered in New Jersey for the Governor’s Conference on Effective Partnering in Cancer Research 2003: Leading the Way to Innovation and Discovery.

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Author: Press Release-Micah Rasmussen