New
Mexico Cancer Council Releases
New Mexico Cancer Plan 2007 – 2011:
A Note from the Chair
The State of New Mexico has a long history of cancer control and “cancer
planning” which spans decades. In fact, we were one of
the first states designated as a “SEER” (Surveillance Epidemiology
and End Results) site by the National Cancer Institute way back in
1973. Thanks to intensive cancer surveillance and New Mexico
data tracking implemented under the SEER program and other related
local efforts, New Mexico has benefited from this special emphasis
on cancer control and the cumulative wisdom of many of the country’s
finest researchers and public health experts.
In this, the latest edition of the New
Mexico Cancer Plan 2007-2011,
and its companion volume, New
Mexico Cancer Facts and Figures 2007, the
New Mexico Cancer Council has attempted to encapsulate much of that
wisdom and forethought, with a look at the current status of cancer
control in New Mexico and effective strategies most likely to lessen
the burden of cancer for all individuals and families in New Mexico. In
particular, we are very pleased that the New Mexico Cancer Plan
2007-2011 offers a special focus on cancer-related health disparities,
providing guidance for the cancer control community intended to afford all
populations the benefits of reductions in cancer incidence and
cancer mortality enjoyed by other segments of our state’s population.
We are cheered on by nothing other than our collective success that
we and other state- and population-specific cancer planning efforts
have enjoyed in recent years. In 2003, a tremendous milestone
was achieved whereby fewer people died from cancer-related deaths in
the United States than in the previous year, despite an aging U.S.
population. In short, the cancer mortality trendline is now headed
in the right direction. We are optimistic that the New Mexico
Cancer Plan 2007-2011 will continue our progress while affording
these same opportunities for cancer prevention and cancer survivorship
to medically-underserved populations throughout our geographically
and ethnically-diverse state.
I would like to personally thank all our members of the New Mexico
Cancer Council who participated in the creation of the New Mexico
Cancer Plan 2007-2011 by offering their expertise in the public
dialogue, data compilation, drafting, editing, and “polishing” of
this now ready-for-publication document. It is an ambitious and
high-quality Cancer Plan that we feel is befitting of the public health
traditions we attribute to early New Mexico cancer control pioneers.
With appreciation and warm regards,
Nathan Bush, Chair
New Mexico Cancer Council
