OPINION: NM needs to improve its cancer care

Cancer doesn’t discriminate, but for many New Mexicans, geography, income and access to care can mean the difference between survival and tragedy. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in New Mexico, accounting for approximately 3,500 lives annually. For patients in rural areas, a diagnosis often means driving hours — sometimes up to five based on my many conversations with patients — just to access treatment. For families already struggling financially, the additional burden of travel and lodging costs is devastating.

While New Mexico has made strides through the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, our only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, the state’s overreliance on a single institution neglects the vast rural and underserved communities that can’t access its services. Programs like 340B, which have received significant media attention nationally and in New Mexico and aim to improve access for low-income populations, have also fallen short, leaving patients with the same barriers to care while disproportionately benefiting hospitals in the state. Patients in New Mexico deserve better.

Other states offer inspiring models of how strategic investments in cancer care can create transformative change.

In Texas, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas has invested over $3 billion to advance cancer research, community-based prevention programs and rural oncology services. Similarly, California has prioritized access through loan forgiveness for health care providers in underserved areas and partnerships with tech companies to expand telehealth, ensuring rural residents have access to care. Colorado has made strides by investing in telehealth infrastructure to support remote cancer care delivery.

By comparison, I believe that New Mexico is falling behind. Despite its geography and rural population, the state has not invested in expanding cancer care and innovation outside UNM. This approach leaves many patients in limbo and fails to address our broader cancer care needs. It’s time for New Mexico to think bigger and act bolder.

To truly address our state’s cancer burden, New Mexico must take concrete steps to make cancer care more accessible, equitable, and innovative. These are the key ways I believe the state can do this:

Diversify Research Funding: The state should invest in research initiatives at community oncology centers and rural clinics to spark innovation and ensure more patients benefit from breakthroughs closer to home.

Expand Access Through Technology: Telehealth and remote patient monitoring are necessities, not luxuries, for a state as geographically diverse as New Mexico. State grants and subsidies could help clinics adopt these technologies to reduce the burden on families living far from major medical centers.

Support Services That Improve Outcomes: Social determinants of health—such as transportation, housing, and nutrition—play a major role in cancer outcomes. Funding programs that address these barriers would improve survival rates and reduce the financial and emotional toll on patients.

Incentivize Workforce Development: Attracting and retaining oncology specialists in underserved areas requires incentives. Loan forgiveness programs and grants could make rural New Mexico a more appealing place for healthcare providers.

New Mexico’s recent cancer plan outlines admirable goals: prevention, early detection, and reducing disparities. But achieving these requires real action which we have not seen yet. Other states have shown that investments in technology, partnerships, and patient support can transform cancer care.

This isn’t just about improving our numbers; it’s about giving every New Mexican a fighting chance. With bold, patient-centered investments, our state can become a leader in equitable and innovative cancer care.

Our patients deserve more, and New Mexico is capable of delivering it. Let’s build a system that reflects the resilience of our people—one where no one has to face cancer alone.