Lt. Governor John Carney Receives National Award For Cancer Prevention and Treatment Initiatives

Lt. Governor John Carney has been recognized by the Society of Surgical Oncology for his long-standing efforts at preventing and treating cancer in Delaware. The group presented Carney with the James Ewing Layman Award, which is given annually to a community member who supports education and research in the field of cancer care and prevention. The award, named for the physician widely regarded as the "Father of Oncology," was given Saturday, March 15th, at the Surgical Society of Oncology's Annual Meeting in Chicago.

"It's a great honor to accept this award in the presence of so many dedicated physicians all working for the same cause," said Lt. Governor Carney. "With the help of many concerned members of our community, Delaware has made a lot of progress in recent years. Our incidence rates are dropping and our cancer mortality rates are declining twice as fast as the national average. But we still have a lot of work to do, and I look forward to keeping the fight against cancer a top priority in the state."

As Chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission and member of the Delaware Cancer Consortium, Lt. Governor Carney works with leaders of the state's medical and business communities to reduce the impact of cancer on Delaware citizens. Recently, Carney launched the "Ending Cervical Cancer in Our Lifetime" campaign and chaired a Cancer Disparities Committee, aimed at eliminating gaps in care among the state's minority population.

Nicholas Petrelli, MD, President of the Society of Surgical Oncology and the Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of the Helen F Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Care presented the award to the Lt. Governor.

"The Lt. Governor has a commitment to continue the fight against cancer in Delaware including closing the disparities gap, which is already being demonstrated by the State's colorectal cancer screening program," stated Dr. Petrelli. "The progress being made in the State of Delaware against cancer is being looked at as a model for many States in the Country."

"I just want to say thank you to all the doctors and members of the medical community assembled here tonight," said Lt. Governor Carney. "You deal with the tragic losses caused by cancer on a daily basis. Knowing all the wonderful things you do makes me want to work even harder."

The Society of Surgical Oncology, formed in 1940, is the premier organization for surgeons and healthcare providers dedicated to advancing and promoting the science and treatment of cancer.

For more information about the event, please call Lt. Governor Carney's office at (302) 577-8787.