According to the American Cancer Society, Michigan is in the bottom-half of states when it comes to policies that fight and prevent cancer.
In their annual How Do You Measure Up? report, the state received failing grades in things like tobacco prevention, access to well-rounded healthcare and tanning bed restrictions.
ACS Government Relations Director Andrew Schepers says one problem is the state severely underfunds tobacco prevention programs.
“The [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] recommends that the state needs to be around $100 to $125 million on an annual basis to have a comprehensive prevention program here in Michigan," Schepers said. "Right now the state only funds it at $1.6 million.”
Scheper also says legislative efforts on regulating e-cigarettes haven't gone far enough.
The American Cancer Society predicts that more than 58,000 will be diagnosed with cancer in Michigan this year, nearly 3,000 more than 2018.
