Early in the year, North Carolina became the first major tobacco growing state to implement a 100 percent statewide smoke-free restaurant and bar law. Three states (Kansas, Wisconsin and Michigan) implemented 100 percent comprehensive smoke-free laws protecting workers and patrons from the hazards of secondhand smoke, bringing to 35 the number of states, in addition to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico that now require 100 percent smoke-free workplaces and/or restaurants and/or bars. Additionally, more than 3,000 municipalities have local laws in effect that restrict where smoking is permitted. Combined, this represents nearly 79 percent of the U.S. population.

In addition to passing these measures, many state legislatures fought hard to preserve coverage for lifesaving cancer screenings and treatments and to stave off attempts to cut state funds that support these programs, such as the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Medicaid coverage for cancer treatments also came under attack, and many state legislatures voted to protect programs that help ensure quality cancer care for those who desperately need it. For example, Idaho successfully increased funding for the Women's Health Check, the state's Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program “ a major victory considering the current economic climate in the state.

Other findings in the report:

Only nine states have reached the benchmark in providing screenings for breast and cervical cancer early detection.Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have laws that ensure private insurance coverage for the full range of colon cancer screenings tests. Ten states spend more than 50 percent of the CDC recommended funding level towards tobacco prevention. Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia spend less than 25 percent of the CDC recommended funding level.Minnesota, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Hawaii are the only four states that met the benchmark with uninsured rates of 11 percent or lower. Texas has the nation's highest uninsured rate of 28 percent, and Massachusetts has the lowest rate of 6 percent. The national average is 16 percent.

In 2010, it is estimated that more than 1.5 million people in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer. With the knowledge we have today, we could prevent 60 percent of cancer deaths in the United States, if everyone in America were to stop smoking, get screened for cancer, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

SOURCE American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network