ATLANTA – Georgia officials recently trumpeted that the state has treated 203 cancer patients and paid $6.1 million as part of its annual cancer-prevention program, but critics say more should be done. The announcement came last week during a meeting of the Board of Public Health. For the past 18 years, Georgia has implemented an education campaign in all 18 of its local districts as part of the national prevention program telling people about signs of cancer, symptoms, screenings and reducing tobacco use. It is funded by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention to raise awareness about overall cancer and the national registry but focuses especially on the cancers of the breast and cervix. Shonta Chambers, the CDC’s interim director of health promotions, says that the comprehensive cancer program enlightens the population about recommended cancer screenings, cancer symptoms and gives them access to cancer care. It’s aimed at the general population and their understanding about having a healthy lifestyle. “We need to realize that we have men and women every single day who have been victorious on overcoming cancer, and it does not mean that they have to have a less positive life,” she said. The cancer state aid program has also played a major role in assisting cancer patients. The program is for low-income and uninsured individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer. There are 23 participating hospitals, radiation centers and 19 specialty vendors. To qualify for this program a patient’s income has to be at 300 percent or below the federal poverty line. For the women’s prevention screenings, she has to have an income below 250 percent of the federal poverty level and be ages 21-64 for the cervical cancer test and 40-64 for the breast cancer exam. The breast and cervical cancer program provides clinical breast exams, mammograms, cervical screenings and pelvic exams. The Department of Public Health is using the cancer registry to collect data so that they are able to find where the burden of cancer is greater in the state and where they need use their resources. But others aren’t satisfied enough is being done. “The state needs to develop a stronger infrastructure in cancer and increase screening,” said Nancy Paris, who is the president of Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education. Created in 2003 out of the state cancer coalition initiative, the center’s is to improve the quality of cancer care through research and education and to combat the perception that better care and more research was available in other states. Paris says that before the cancer coalition initiative ended she worked with former Gov. Sonny Perdue who once said, “I don’t want anybody to have to go to Alabama to receive better care and treatment for cancer.”