The state of Michigan recently announced a new cancer plan, joining forces with First Lady Sue Snyder, who is a breast cancer survivor. WGVU gets reaction to the plan from the head of Spectrum Health’s Cancer Center.
“We have many of the tools, but not all, so hopefully with this plan we can improve the quality of life for our population in Michigan. “
That’s Dr. Judy L. Smith, Chief of the Spectrum Health Cancer Center, as we talk about the recently introduced state cancer plan backed by First Lady Sue Snyder; the first lady along with the Michigan Department Of Health and Human Services and Michigan Cancer Consortium announced a plan to reduce cancer deaths in our communities. Dr. Smith says this a good move.
“And it’s critically important that we continue the fight against cancer, because although we are making great strides in terms of survivorship and increasing our treatment options and our ability to cure many groups of patients, we still have a significant distance to go.”
The new plan is to provide meaningful information such as survivorship resources and clinical trials available to those diagnosed with cancer. The plan emphasizes that the clinical trials should be available for all. Dr. Smith agrees.
“So having this available to all the people in the state of Michigan is critically important and at Spectrum Health we’ve been able to use our network of the Cancer Center over the multiple counties in order to have all of cancer care providers understand what all of the trials that are available both here in Grand Rapids and in our Consortium as well as elsewhere in the United States.
The plan also addresses preventative measures residents can take, like an active lifestyle and eating healthy.
