HELENA — Cancer remains the second-leading cause of death in Montana, behind cardiovascular disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
Monday evening, volunteers with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network brought that message to the Montana Capitol, highlighting cancer's impact statewide and calling attention to care disparities.
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“Every name has a story,” Keri Yoder, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Montana state lead ambassador, said.
Volunteers recently returned from an advocacy day in Washington, D.C. Now, they’re bringing that advocacy home for Montana’s Lights of Hope.
“We advocate for cancer research funding; we advocate for access to healthcare, cancer prevention programs, and cancer screening,” Yoder added.
The burden is not the same for every community. According to the Montana Cancer Coalition, American Indian populations in Montana have a cancer rate roughly 35 percent higher than the state's white population.
Advocates also say rural communities and socioeconomic barriers can make it harder to access screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
“We see a lot of people that are not able to participate in a cancer trial because Montana is so isolated,” Yoder said.
Each bag represents a cancer survivor, someone going through the battle right now, those we have lost, and their caregivers.
“I see it as a wonderful community support, as well as individual support, as well as monetary support,” Karrie Fairbrother, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Montana state lead, said.
As the bags illuminate the Capitol, volunteers say the goal is to keep cancer awareness and the needs of Montana patients in the spotlight.
