Georgia Announces Cancer Initiative.

When Governor Roy E. Barnes of Georgia lost his 34-year-old niece to cancer, the issues surrounding prevention and control hit close to home. But rather than grieve silently, Barnes chose to use the family tragedy as inspiration for a new statewide initiative that promises to make Georgia the home of a world-class comprehensive cancer control program.

The governor launched the Georgia Cancer Coalition last November, a new public-private partnership that will cost more than a billion dollars over the next five to seven years.

Senator Terrell A. Starr, president pro tem of the Georgia Senate, says that the governor's initiative is "most impressive," not only because of its humane mission, but also because it will be an economic boon for the state. "This initiative will attract quality professionals and top research dollars to Georgia," says Senator Starr. "Cancer prevention must be addressed very forcibly." The senator is convinced that the legislature will support the initiative "very willingly."

The goals of the partnership are to:

* Detect and prevent cancer through education and screening.

* Improve access to quality care by establishing a statewide treatment network.

* Train top-notch cancer researchers and caregivers.

* Bring pharmaceutical and research jobs to the state.

* Bring the best doctors, treatment methods and technology to Georgia.

The initiative is not a "bricks and mortar" project to build a new cancer care facility, but rather an effort to create a statewide comprehensive cancer network that best serves the entire state. Rural residents will get the same access to treatment and care as urban residents.

The governor brought together some of the country's top experts to review Georgia's cancer statistics. Under current trends, one in two men and one in three women in Georgia will develop cancer sometime during their lifetime.

Even so, only about half of the people who should be tested are getting screened for such cancers as breast and colorectal.

A statewide inventory of all existing cancer programs, facilities and agencies has identified gaps in resources and duplication in services.

Private and public funds will be used to pay for the project. Governor Barnes recommends that the state use $300 million to $400 million in tobacco settlement funds. The legislature supports using tobacco money to prevent and control cancer, and the state plans on committing additional general fund money. Because of the scope of the initiative, legislators said they are also aware that much of the money, approximately 60 percent, will have to be raised through private support.

Georgia is not alone in its efforts to fight cancer. Maine just launched its Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also provides funding or technical assistance to 11 states and one tribal group to develop cancer plans. And seven states have enacted laws establishing statewide advisory committees to oversee cancer control activities.