Lacey City Council recognizes February as Cancer Prevention Month

The Lacey City Council proclaimed February 2026 as Cancer Prevention Month.

The proclamation is grounded in Washington State Department of Health data that shows roughly 42,000 new cancer cases and more than 12,000 deaths statewide each year. 

Council members adopted the proclamation during a regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb 17, and identified cancer as a leading cause of death in the state and the United States.  

The proclamation also identified access barriers to essential health services as a systemic gap in early detection coverage statewide. Studies cited by the city place up to 50% of cancer detections in the preventable category through a nutritious diet, regular physical activity, tobacco avoidance and limited alcohol consumption. 

Mayor Andy Ryder said he has lived the stakes of the proclamation firsthand. He disclosed a prostate cancer diagnosis at a September 2024 council meeting and said the disease caught him at 50. 

By February 2025, Ryder's post-treatment bloodwork confirmed no cancer. He made the announcement at the same council meeting where he also backed Lacey's 2025 Cancer Prevention Month proclamation. He then attributed the outcome to early detection and access to treatment in the Pacific Northwest. 

"If anyone's out there thinking, should I get tested, yes, go get tested," said Ryder during the Feb. 17 meeting. "Early catching cancer early is extremely important for your survivability." 

National stakes 

Robert Lane, Chair of the American Cancer Society's South Sound Leadership Council, said prevention measures could avert up to 44% of the 620,000 U.S. cancer deaths projected for 2026.

He noted making cognizant daily decisions toward healthier choices matters more than perfection. The goal, he said, is continuous improvement. 

Nichole Woolsey, the American Cancer Society's Senior Development Manager for Thurston County, said prevention and screening services have averted 4.75 million deaths over four decades covering breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers.  

The American Cancer Society is the leading cancer-fighting organization in the country. It pursues that mission through advocacy, research and patient support to guarantee access to prevention, detection, treatment and survival resources for everyone. 

Woolsey also distributed age-specific screening guidelines and circulated a QR code form for Cancer Risk 360, a free five-minute quiz at cancer.org. The tool generates personalized screening timelines and lifestyle recommendations based on individual health profiles, family history and risk factors. 

Residents looking to take action can register for Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society's annual community walk on June 20 in Lacey.  

Since 1985, the event has united communities to honor survivors, recognize caregivers and memorialize individuals lost to cancer. Lacey ranks fifth in the nation for the fundraiser. Contact Woolsey at nichole.woolsey@cancer.org or 360-485-8995 for details. 

The American Cancer Society's 24/7 helpline, 1-800-227-2345, is also available for questions on screenings, lifestyle prevention and cancer diagnosis.