Working Together...Quarterly
Montana Cancer Control Coalition
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Advancing MTCCC Communication Strategies |
We are happy to announce the Communications Committee has officially launched the MTCCC Promotional Toolkit on the coalition website! The purpose of the toolkit is to provide educational and outreach materials to coalition members who wish to assist in the promotion of the MTCCC. Materials are available for use by coalition members as well as the general public. The electronic files may be downloaded, printed, and reproduced from the website and disseminated to the public. Items currently available for use are brochures, postcards, business cards, fact sheets, a power point presentation, and more! Promote the MTCCC at your next tabling event, local health fair, staff meeting, neighborhood council meeting, or other community gathering. Please visit www.mtcancercoalition.org and click on the "Promotional Toolkit" link under the Main Menu. If you have other ideas for items to include in the toolkit, please contact the Communications Committee. Thank you for your help in promoting the MTCCC!
Tracy Boehm
Communications Committee Chair |
|
|
|
| Semi-Annual Statewide Meeting a Success | The semi-annual spring MTCCC statewide meeting was held in Billings, MT at St. Vincent Healthcare's Mansfield Education Center. The meeting focus was updating the cancer control plan for 2011-2016. 
Dr. Barb Lloyd, co-chair, launched the meeting by providing an overview of Comprehensive Cancer Control in Montana. This presentation led into recognition of coalition accomplishments, one of which (among many) is the dedication, strength, and work of coalition members. Dr. Lloyd's review and member acknowledgement of the coalition's progression helped lay the foundation for the work portion of the meeting.
Dr. Carol Ballew followed with a review of cancer data and methods of measuring coalition activities. Dr. Lloyd then presented an overview of challenges the coalition faces, such as emerging healthcare trends, in addition to posing possible solutions. The ideas provided opportunity to think about ways to support the development of and adherence to coalition goals and objectives.
The coalition was happy to have Victoria Augare, Montana Cancer Control Programs American Indian Screening Coordinator, present information on the Montana American Indian Women's Health Coalition (MAIWHC). She highlighted the successful statewide collaboration of MAIWHC, as well as shared a very impressive digital storytelling video. The video focused on empowering American Indian people to take control of personal health and wellness, specifically around communication with healthcare providers.
Another highlight of the spring meeting was the presentation of the Bette Bohlinger Leadership Award, presented by Bette and John Bohlinger's daughters, Jan Osbourne and Jolynn Sommers. Dr. Tom Purcell, a well-respected oncologist, received this prestigious award. Please congratulate and thank Dr. Purcell for all of his hard work and dedication!
The MTCCC Provider Advisory Group and ACoS CoC Cancer Liaison Physicians held a meeting chaired by Dr. Meyers, Provider Advisory Group Liaison. We are thrilled to have this new group of experts as part of the coalition!
The meeting was productive, as implementation teams and committees shared their objectives for the 2011-2016 plan in the report-out session. There is a lot of exciting cancer control work being done by everyone.
The MTCCC wishes to thank: St. Vincent's Healthcare for hosting the event and providing lunch and snacks throughout the day; Sue Warren, MTCCC Plan Update Chair, for her leadership in the plan update process; as well as all of the meeting presenters, group leaders, and coalition members for participating in another successful statewide meeting event.
The next semi-annual statewide meeting will take place November 4, 2010 in Helena.
Cheryl Hackett
MTCCC Co-Chair |
| Steering Committee Report: Jan-Mar 2010 | The MTCCC Steering Committee met by conference call in January, and in-person at the Leadership Retreat in March. Highlights from those meetings include:
- The Provider Advisory Group (PAG) has been added to the MTCCC structure. This will add an option for participation of providers that is more task specific and allows less need to attend monthly conference call group meetings. The bylaws and organizational chart have been modified to include the PAG. Dr. David Myers is the acting PAG Liaison on the Administrative Board and the Steering Committee. This liaison position will be elected at the fall MTCCC meeting to serve a two year term.
- The website policy has been updated and finalized.
- The Cancer Control Activity Tracking procedure and forms have been completed.
- Leaders and MT CCC Plan Update Process Liaisons for each group were trained in the update process, tasks and timeline.
- Group work plan expectations for 2010-11 have been outlined.
Dr. Barb Lloyd
Co-chair MTCCC |
| 2010 Be Sun Safe - Skin Cancer Prevention |
The MTCCC Early Detection Team wants to remind you of upcoming messages and promotions for prevention and early detection of skin cancer.
May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
May 3 is Melanoma Monday
June 6-12 is Sun Safety Week
July is UV Safety Awareness Month
You can find out more about these promotions and sponsors on the National Health Observances calendar from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.healthfinder.gov/nho/
In 2009 approximately 1 million new cases of skin cancer were diagnosed. Skin cancer is the most common and most preventable of cancers. Exposure to the sun causes most skin cancer.
Most skin cancer can be treated successfully if found at an early stage. Examine your skin for spots or changes and ask your health care provider about screening. Treatment options depend on the type of skin cancer and the stage.
SKIN CANCER RISK REDUCTION AND EARLY DETECTION
Avoid sun exposure during between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 
Always wear sunscreen with UVB and UVA exposure protective chemicals and with SPF 15 or higher, even on cloudy days.
Apply at least one ounce - about a shot glass full - of sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going out in the sun, and reapply frequently - at least every two hours if in continuous sunlight.
Wear sunglasses treated to absorb ultraviolet (UV) radiation, use a lip balm with an SPF of at least 15, and wear tight-weave clothing with long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat.
Have a routine whole-body skin check by a health care professional once a year.
Adapted from Prevent Cancer Foundation Skin Cancer Fact Sheet.
Terry Egan
Communications Committee Manager
MCCCP Coordinator-Region 2 |
| Prevention Update | The MTCCC Prevention Implementation Team recently teamed up with the state FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) to educate high school students about skin cancer prevention. Jamie Koett, a medical resident at Riverstone, and Kassi Fleury, a member of the Prevention Team, presented to approximately 100 high school students, from schools throughout the state, at the state FCCLA convention in March.
The Prevention Team plans to continue to work with this organization to distribute skin cancer prevention information to the high school population. Megan Anderson, the director of the Montana FCCLA program,and the Prevention Team have discussed possibilities for future collaborative efforts.
The FCCLA program encourages students to do service and educational projects in their high schools. In establishing a relationship with this organization, we hope to encourage those students attending our presentation to do an educational project in their high schools to encourage skin cancer prevention, therefore, further spreading the message to this population.
Kristi Aklestad
Prevention Team Chair
MCCCP Coordinator-Region 5 |
| Scobey Active Living Project |
The Scobey Trail Project began in March, 2009 with the introduction of the local Nutrition and Physical Activity program. Teresa Danelson, the local NAPA and Cancer Control Programs coordinator, chose the "Built Environment" as a work plan goal with the aim to make the community a safer and more enjoyable place to walk and bike. A coalition of community members was developed and the Scobey Active Living Project was initiated.
Since that time, the Scobey Active Living Task Force has been awarded assistance from numerous organizations.
- The National Park Service; Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program awarded technical support to the Trail Project. Gary Weiner is the Resource Management Specialist and will assist in facilitating and organizing a trails project.
- Beacon Community Foundation awarded "seed money".
- The Rural Health Initiative Incubator Program, awarded assistance to develop the program and help support the needs of our project.
- An application for a "Safe Route to School" grant is pending.
In March of this year, the RHI Incubator program assisted the Task Force with two press releases on trail systems; the first focused on the benefits of trails to an individual and the community, and the second gave an explanation of the proposed projects in the Scobey area. These press releases were published in the local newspaper and followed by a survey to assist the Task Force in prioritizing their goals.
The Region 11, Cancer Control Program plans to participate in the project by building a shaded structure on the trail to provide shelter from the sun. Under the proposed shaded area a bulletin board will be positioned to post information from the Health Department and healthy living educational material.
Teresa Danelson
MCCCP Coordinator-Region 11
Communications Committee member |
| Advocating for Childhood Cancer Survivors in the Public School Setting | The DPHHS Comprehensive Cancer Control Programs arranged a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Public School Systems, the Office of Public Instruction (OPI), parents of childhood cancer survivors and Oncology Social Workers to address the needs of childhood cancer survivors returning to school during and after treatment.
The discussion addressed the opportunities and challenges faced by survivors, family members, school personnel and health care providers. Oncology Social Workers from around the state were on hand to explain the physical, cognitive, emotional and socialization issues caused by childhood cancer diagnoses and treatments. School personnel heard from parents of childhood cancer survivors about their children's needs and the needs of siblings. They addressed the need for ongoing assistance with services such as tutoring because long term effects can last a lifetime. They also explained that late effects can appear months or years after treatment ends. Challenges included confidentiality constraints and a lack of state specific resources provided to parents and to school personnel.
Helpful resources and ways of disseminating information were explored. The MTCCC Quality of Life and Survivorship Implementation Team will work on developing and assembling educational packets with available resources and disease specific information for school counselors and personnel. Development of a brochure regarding childhood cancer and education and a state specific resource kit that can be disseminated to regional children's hospitals is also planned. Grant opportunities will be explored in the hopes that each school in Montana can have a copy of "An Educator's Guide to Childhood Cancer" by Nancy Keene, in their resource libraries.
While the OPI was not able to attend this roundtable discussion, representatives from the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program followed up with an OPI representative and discussed the importance of the OPI's role as a bridge between public schools and community agencies. Individual Education Plans (IEP), 504 plans, school policies, and inclusion of resources outside of the school system were also brought forward. The OPI agreed to add a link to the MTCCC on their website.
Lisa O'Brien Quality of Life and Survivorship Team Chair |
| Assessment and Development Committee | Report of External Variables Affecting Cancer Control
The Assessment and Development Committee (AD Comm) is responsible to report annually to the MTCCC regarding External Variables Affecting Cancer Control. We want to give credit to our Task Force Leader, Deanna Hastings, for compiling the information critical to our assessment of strategies needed to advance Cancer Control over the next 5 years.
One of our approved database resources, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) made new recommendations for Breast Cancer Screening in November, 2009. In 2002, the USPSTF recommended that women have annual mammography beginning at age 40. Their new controversial, yet evidenced-based recommendations, found that the risks of having women do annual mammograms outweighed the benefits due to the following outcomes:
- Too many false-positive test results
- Over diagnosis and unnecessary earlier treatment
- Insufficient data to weigh the risks and benefits of screening mammography in women ages 75 and older
- Insufficient data to show benefits or risks of digital mammography or magnetic resonance imaging as opposed to film mammography
- Insufficient data to show the benefits and risks of clinical breast examination beyond mammography in women over 40
- No data suggesting that a woman performing self breast exams will aid in the early detection of breast cancer
New Recommendation (USPSTF): Unless you are at higher risk for breast cancer, annual mammography begins at the age of 50, and is performed every other year instead of the current yearly exam.
American Cancer Society (ACS) Standard
The ACS stands by the previous recommendation - and adopted as the "gold standard" - that annual mammography begins at age 40 and earlier if there is a genetic predisposition of hereditary breast cancer. Sue Warren
MTCCC Chair CCC Plan Update Committee
|
| Dates to Remember! | |
July 15th: 4th Quarter Reports Due
July 31st: Cancer Control Plan Step 3 Due |
|
|
|
|
|
|
