In a preview to the budget she will outline today, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius announced Friday a measure that Kansans should applaud.

The governor’s recommendation that the state commit $5 million annually to support the KU Cancer Center at the Kansas University Medical Center is a boon for Kansas and KU on a number of levels.

From a humanitarian standpoint, the governor pointed to statistics that indicate almost half of all Kansans will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetimes. Almost 13,000 Kansans will be diagnosed with cancer this year alone. Although there have been many advances in cancer treatment in recent years, much work remains to be done. On average, 15 Kansas lives are lost each day to some form of cancer, according to the governor’s press release.

The financial support also would come at a key time for the KU Cancer Center. Chancellor Robert Hemenway announced last fall that the university is giving top priority to obtaining a National Cancer Institute designation for the KU center. That designation will place the center in an elite network of institutions involved with cancer treatment and research. It seems likely that such a designation also would boost the state’s reputation as a player in the field of biosciences.

Although most Kansans understand the health impact of a cancer diagnosis, cancer also has an economic impact on the state. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer costs the state more than $4.4 million a day in lost productivity as well as direct medical costs. Fighting cancer is a good investment for the state.

Thanks to the governor for recognizing and supporting an effort to create a true center of excellence for Kansas and KU. Having a top-notch center for cancer research and treatment would be a wonderful recognition for KU and Kansas as well as a life-enhancing service for every Kansan.

We hope state legislators will agree that the governor’s proposal is a worthwhile and positive plan that will benefit Kansas in many ways.