In 2026, 2,114,850 new cancer cases and 626,140 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the United States. An estimated 29,870 Louisianans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2026, and an estimated 9,360 will die from the disease. We can — and must — do better, and multi-cancer early detection technology can help.
The best way to beat cancer is to catch it earlier, before it has spread. But until now, we didn’t have the tools to find most cancers early. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) helped champion the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act to overcome this challenge. This legislation, which was signed into law this year by President Trump, ensures older adults can soon have access to cutting-edge screenings that can identify multiple cancers, many of which have no screening test available today, from one blood draw.
States in the South consistently show some of the highest cancer death rates in the nation, with Louisiana among the leading states for age-adjusted cancer mortality. Louisiana seniors on Medicare must have the opportunity to benefit from the newest technology in early cancer detection.
Call Rep. Scalise (202-225-3015) and thank him for his leadership in getting the MCED Act signed into law.
Explore more about MCED on our priority issues page.