Media Release: New Cancer Prevention Policy Toolkit Takes Aim at Reducing Maine’s Cancer Burden

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Contact: Matt Wellington, mwellington@mainepublichealth.org, 845-591-5646

                        New Cancer Prevention Policy Toolkit Takes Aim at Reducing Maine’s Cancer Burden 

Augusta: A new policy toolkit released Tuesday by Maine Public Health Association and Maine Cancer Foundation takes aim at reducing Maine’s cancer burden. The goal of the toolkit is to educate Maine's policymakers about Maine’s cancer rate, which is the highest in New England, and share evidence-based policy solutions based on six risk factors for cancer: tobacco use, weight status, alcohol use, radon, arsenic, and PFAS exposure. You can view the cancer prevention policy toolkit here and at mainepublichealth.org. 

“This toolkit is meant to give lawmakers a roadmap for how we can reduce Maine’s cancer burden. So much of that effort starts with investing in communities and building infrastructure that promotes positive social connections for young people,” said Matt Wellington, Associate Director of Maine Public Health Association. “Youth are less likely to use substances – like alcohol and tobacco – when they feel like they matter in their community. These same investments, like safe places to recreate, can promote physical activity, social connection, and better health.”

The Maine Cancer Foundation funded the project and emphasized the importance of policy change in tackling Maine’s cancer problem. 

“1 in 3 Mainers will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. It doesn’t have to be this way. We’re urging Maine’s lawmakers to adopt the policies laid out in this toolkit so our communities can thrive, and people can live long, cancer-free lives,” said Katelyn Michaud, Director of Programming at Maine Cancer Foundation.

Oftentimes, it’s not individual choices that contribute to cancer, it’s the communities people live within that make it easier or harder to live a healthy life and limit cancer risk. That’s why the policy toolkit focuses mainly on prevention strategies to reduce cancer risk at the community level.

Senator Marianne Moore (R-Washington), a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, shared that “Washington County’s cancer rates are higher than the state average. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer. It’s critical that we use every tool at our disposal to prevent cancer, especially in rural areas of Maine that have limited access to care.”

House Majority Leader, Matt Moonen (D-Portland) highlighted tobacco’s role in cancer risk, stating that, “Here in Maine, we have the highest adult smoking rate of any New England state and it’s estimated that approximately 2,400 people will die from smoking-related illness this year alone. Increasing the tax on tobacco products and investing in tobacco cessation programs will save lives and reduce our health care costs. In fact, raising the tobacco tax has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to prevent young people from starting to use tobacco and encourage those already addicted to quit.” 

Stakeholders highlighted the need for better access to cancer care in Maine but stressed that cancer prevention strategies need more investment. 

“At 38 years old, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Navigating surgeries, managing side effects of medications, fearing recurrence, and dealing with the financial toxicities of cancer—all while raising a young child—has been incredibly hard. Really hard,” said Shawna Ackley. “I’m grateful to be here today, cancer-free. We need to ensure that Mainers have access to the resources and care they need if they're diagnosed with cancer, and, even better, reduce the chances of them getting cancer in the first place,” said Ackley. 

Additional background: 

• Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable cancer and cancer deaths in the United States. It has been linked to 40 percent of cancer diagnoses including 11 types of cancer across the entire body.
• Obesity is a chronic disease and the second leading cause of 13 preventable types of cancer, including esophageal, breast, colorectal, gallbladder, stomach, kidney, pancreatic, thyroid, and liver.
• Alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, after tobacco and obesity.
• Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year.
• Arsenic exposure has been associated with increased risk for lung, bladder, and skin cancer.
• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of "forever chemicals" associated with significant health concerns, including increased risk for certain cancers, including kidney, thyroid and testicular cancer. PFAS are found in air, soil, surface water, and groundwater (including drinking water); food and food packaging; commercial household products, and wildlife, like deer and fish, which have accumulated PFAS over time.

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Maine Public Health Association works to advance the health of all people and places in Maine.