The Fall MTCCC Statewide Meeting took place on November 4, 2010 in Helena MT.  The day started with an overview of the Cancer Control Programs: A National Perspective Down to the State Level. Presenters were: Ginny Furshong, Program Manager for the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, Mark Wamsley, Cancer Screening Program Manager, Victoria Augare, MAIWHC Coordinator and Carol Ballew, PhD, Epidemiologist / Program Manager, Cancer Surveillance & Epidemiology.

 
The morning continued with Monica J. Lindeen, Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Montana State Auditor educating the coalition on Healthcare Reform and Montana. Among the numerous changes, one helpful resource for people to access is www.mthealth.org to learn about The Montana Affordable Care Plan (MAC Plan), an insurance program for those in the high risk pool.

Kristin Page Nei, Government Relations Director, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, discussed Healthcare Reform & Advocating for Cancer Control Policies, as it relates to us in Montana.  Put the dates March 7 & 8, 2011 on your calendar now for the ACS CAN "Celebration on the Hill". 

Barbara Schneeman, Director, Communications & Advocacy at Riverstone Health, in Billings MT began the afternoon by enlightening us about Legislative Advocacy, Montana Style. She emphasized that when talking to legislators, remember to make the issues you are discussing real, relevant and right now. Her presentation slides will soon be available on the MTCCC website.

Sue Warren, Chairman of the MTCCC 2011-2016 plan update reminded the coalition of what has been accomplished in this process, the current timeline and what needs to be done to complete the plan update.   The implementation teams and committees were fortunate to be able to spend time in person working on completing the goals, objectives and strategies for the 2011-2016 plan update during the afternoon.

Montana Cancer Control Coalition reports included Dr. Lloyd, Co-Chair, presenting on 2011 Legislative Priorities, Betsy Smith, member at large, giving the Steering Committee Report and Kristie Farver-Oaks, Resources and Membership Committee, discussing fundraising and membership recruitment. The Provider Advisory Group for the coalition lead by Dr. Myers held their second meeting during the lunch hour.

Dr. Myers and Co-Chair Dr. Lloyd present outgoing Co-Chair Cheryl Hackett a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the MTCCC

Other business for the coalition included announcing the following positions for 2011:

         1.      Betsy Smith as Co-Chair for the MTCCC

         2.      Karen Walker as Manager of Resource &        Membership Committee

         3.      Lisa O'Brien as a Member at Large

         4.      Dr. Myers as Provider Advisory Group Liaison

         5.      Becky Franks as Chair of Quality of Life and Survivorship Team

The Assessment and Development Committee, in an attempt to increase survey participation, had computers available for members to complete the MTCCC Survey on breaks and at lunch.   Participants were entered into a drawing to win a $50 VISA giftcard.

Important upcoming dates to remember are:

• December 3, 2010       Steering Committee Meeting
• March 4-5, 2011           Steering Committee Leadership Retreat
• May 10, 2011               MTCCC Statewide Meeting and launch of the 2011-2016 CCC Plan

Cheryl Hackett, MTCCC Co-Chair

It is important to remember that the Montana Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan serves as a guide of what is needed to completely and effectively address the cancer burden in the state of Montana.  As well, our resources, such as time, money and personnel are also limited as we work collaboratively across the state to develop a plan to control cancer over the next five years.

We have been fortunate to have had a task force convene with the Cancer Control Program staff in Helena on October 19^th to review our goals and objectives and assure that they are SMART (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Based).  Now we are ready to focus on prioritizing the strategies that you all have submitted.  It is important that we have the time to carefully consider and debate our proposed plans - and the strategies that we take; therefore, the Administrative Board recommended to the Steering Committee that the timeline be revised to meet these strategic needs.

Our MTCCC Fall statewide meeting in November brought forward exciting debate as we carefully consider and prioritize the strategies that will help us accomplish our goals through 2016.  We will be ensuring that the strategies selected by each team are evidence-based.  The Communications and Education Committee are continuing to collect and review stories and quotes to include in the plan that will reflect the continuum of cancer care from prevention to quality of life and survivorship. 

To accomplish all of this, we have revised our timeline to achieve success!  The final CCC Plan Document will be presented at our Leadership Retreat in March prior to submitting it to the printer.  We will welcome Karin and Leslie, our Consultants, as facilitators and then plan to review our expectations for our Spring Kickoff Meeting.

Hang in there and thanks for all you do...we are almost to the finish line!

Sue Warren

Chair/Cancer Control Plan Update

Patient Care Navigators are nothing new to cancer care.  Recently, Billings Clinic expanded its nurse navigation team to include a survivorship navigator.  Oncology trained registered nurses have "navigated" Billings Clinic cancer patients' needs since 2003.  In addition to the new survivorship navigator, Billings Clinic employs a regional navigator, a breast diagnostic navigator, and six treatment navigators.  During the course of cancer diagnosis and treatment, patients and their families rely heavily on the assistance and support they receive from their nurse navigators.  When treatment and regularly scheduled appointments come to an end, many survivors feel alone, without the "safety net" of assistance and resources they have come to rely on.  They are fearful of facing the next stage of life without help to overcome medical and psychosocial problems that may arise as they return to a "new normal" lifestyle.  In Montana, this issue is further impacted by the large geographic but rural make-up of our state.  Many patients need to travel great distances (sometimes over 300 miles one way) to obtain services, while also dealing with the cultural norms of a small community.

Survivorship Navigation is part of a nursing research study being conducted at the Billings Clinic.  On October 1^st, Billings Clinic began providing survivorship navigation to breast and lymphoma patients.  Treatment Summaries and Survivorship Plans are given to these survivors within one month of their final chemotherapy or radiation therapy.  As part of the study, these survivors are asked to complete a short assessment about their present condition in the areas of physical, emotional, functional and social/family well being at one month, three months and six months.  As part of the study, these "survivors" will be followed for six months post treatment to assess their status while they have survivorship navigation assistance.  The role of the Survivorship Navigator is to assist survivors in the transition from active treatment to ongoing surveillance, while also assessing the effectiveness of treatment summaries and survivorship plans in the area of communication between the patient, the cancer care team and other health care providers such as the primary care physician.

Providing cancer survivors with treatment summaries and survivorship surveillance plans is another component of comprehensive cancer care.  Billings Clinic believes survivorship navigation is a crucial step in transitioning patients from active treatment into survivorship and is eager to see the results of the study.