Dozens of volunteer advocates from across Arizona — including cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, and partner organizations — gathered at the State Capitol in Phoenix for Cancer Action Day, hosted by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), Thursday. Attendees met with state lawmakers to call for stronger protection against Big Tobacco and improved access to lifesaving breast and prostate cancer screenings.
The event kicked off at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, where advocates heard from guest speakers, shared their personal cancer journeys, and prepared for meetings with lawmakers. A large ‘HOPE wall’ served as a visual reminder to legislators about the stake they hold in ending the cancer burden for Arizonans. Attendees were invited to write messages of hope to those affected by cancer and place them on the wall.
Following the morning program, advocates met with lawmakers and their staff inside the Capitol buildings and urged them to support several priorities including two bills that would eliminate financial barriers to screenings for breast and prostate cancers.
HB2617 would remove cost-sharing barriers for high-risk men seeking prostate cancer screening which continues to be the most-diagnosed cancer among men in Arizona. High-risk includes African American men and those who have one or more first-degree relatives (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65.
When prostate cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100 percent.
Maria Martinez, a two-time breast cancer survivor, and ACS CAN volunteer, traveled from Tucson to Phoenix for Thursday’s event. She shared her cancer journey with lawmakers in hopes of getting them to support SB1165 which would ensure the full continuum of medically necessary breast cancer screenings are covered at no cost to patients. Had she not had her MRI approved, Martinez said it is likely that her secondary breast cancer would not have been identified early enough and become metastatic.
“Many women need additional exams after an abnormal mammogram, but they can’t always afford them,” said Martinez. “No woman should be forced to delay or skip screenings because of cost which is why I’m advocating for state-regulated health plans to cover these exams. As we all know, a later cancer diagnosis increases the potential for more expensive and challenging outcomes. I hope lawmakers do the right thing and vote yes to SB 1165.”
More than 7,090 Arizona women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2026.
In addition to the prostate and breast cancer screening bills, advocates also requested lawmakers maintain more than $1.3 million in funding for the Arizona Well Woman HealthCheck Program which provides lifesaving breast and cervical cancer screening for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women. They asked legislators to reject bills driven by Big Tobacco which would undermine protections for kids, including SB1103, SB1367, HB2393, and HB4001, as well.
“Today, advocates from all walks of life came together with one message for lawmakers – protecting Arizonans from cancer should be a priority and bipartisan effort,” said Brian Hummell, ACS CAN Arizona Government Relations Director. “After today’s meetings, we hope legislators remember the stories of their constituents by supporting commonsense cancer prevention policies and rejecting Big Tobacco’s attempts to weaken public health protections and hook future generations on their products.
Cancer Action Day, which is held annually, included volunteers from Northern, Central, and Southern Arizona.