The state of Kansas - and half the other states in the country - are failing when it comes to cancer prevention and treatment efforts. That's the finding in a survey carried out by the American Cancer Society. Christopher Masoner is the state public affairs director for the society. He says one of the state's most glaring deficiencies is the Kansas tobacco tax, which he says is too low.
While Masoner praises the Kansas Legislature for passing the ban on smoking in most public places, he is scolding the state for its inadequate screening for breast and cervical cancer among low-income women. He is also concerned about insurance coverage of colorectal cancer screenings, and worries that the state has not allocated enough money for tobacco use prevention programs.