March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer
is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Hampshire. An estimated 730 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 220 people will die this year. According to the CDC, the number of new colorectal cancer cases could be reduced by as much as 90% if all precancerous polyps are identified by screening tests and removed before they become cancerous. |
Colon Cancer Expo
March 14, 2013
10 am-2 pm
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Prevent, Treat, Beat - that's what a screening test can do to colorectal cancer.
Members of the gastroenterology team will be on hand to talk about living colorectal cancer free.
Kick Butts Day
March 20, 2013
Locations throughout New Hampshire
Kick Butts Day is a national day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco. Several communities in New Hampshire will host events to raise awareness of the tobacco problem, encourage youth to stay tobacco-free and urge strong action to protect kids from tobacco.
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NH Chronic
Disease Conference
May 22, 2013
Grappone Conference Center, Concord
FMI: Click here.
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Tools & Resources
New "What Works" Fact Sheets for Cancer Screening and Skin Cancer Prevention
Two new 'What Works' fact sheets summarize the Community Preventive Services Task Force findings for cancer screening and skin cancer prevention. Access both What Works fact sheets from The Community Guide website along with What Works: Tobacco Use.
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If you know someone who may be interested in joining NH CCC or in learning more about our activities, please forward this newsletter.
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Featured Partner: Dr. Lynn Butterly and the NH Colorectal Cancer Screening Program
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Colorectal Cancer Program Works to Increase Screening Statewide
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer deaths, but it's also one of the few cancers that can
be prevented. Most colorectal cancers begin as polyps, a
few of which may turn into cancer over a period of 5-10 years or longer.
"By removing any polyps that are found with screening, we can reduce the chances that those polyps can later develop into colorectal cancer," said Lynn Butterly, MD, director of Colorectal Cancer Screening for Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Medical Center and medical director for the New
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Lynn Butterly, MD, Director of Colorectal Cancer Screening for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Medical Director for the
NHCRCSP
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Hampshire Colorectal Cancer Screening Program (NHCRCSP), a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant program. "That's why screening is so important for this type of cancer."
NHCRCSP is working with partners across the state to increase colorectal cancer screening rates to 80 percent for individuals in New Hampshire over age 50 by 2014. The latest New Hampshire Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), a telephone survey to NH households, indicates significant improvement with an increase in screening rates from 66.9% in 2006 to 74% in 2011.
Read more...
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Young Melanoma Survivors Teach Teens about the Dangers of Tanning
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It is a startling statistic. Melanoma is the second most common cancer in teens and young adults between the ages of 15 - 29. Last year in New Hampshire, the American Cancer Society estimated 470 new cases of melanoma, with the most likely causes being unhealthy tanning practices and exposure to harmful UV rays of tanning beds. There are efforts underway here in New Hampshire to prevent future melanoma cases. The Melanoma Foundation of New England (MFNE) in partnership with the New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Collaboration (NH CCC) is working to educate teens about sun safety and the risks that come with tanning.
 | | Concord High School teens who attended the Forum (left to right): Megan Crump, Katelynn McLennan, Liz Duval, Sara Shtino, Haley Kelso |
Two Teens on Tanning Forums were recently held in Laconia and Concord, and teens from around Central New Hampshire attended and heard first hand from Melanoma survivors. NH CCC spoke with two groups of teens, who shared their thoughts on what they heard and learned.
"I was absolutely terrified," said Concord High Senior Megan Crump, "because I heard the survivors talk about so many of the things that relate to my lifestyle and to think it could happen to me or someone I know."
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Pembroke Academy teens who attended the Forum (left to right): Shannon Drouse, Allana Kroll, Keerstyn Allen
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"The survivor stories
were awesome," said Senior Haley Kelso, who lost her aunt to melanoma two years ago. "Watching my aunt slowly die and listening to survivors and how they managed was very inspirational. Cancer is a very scary thing and to see they got through it and are still living is amazing."
"It was really eye-opening," said Pembroke Academy Junior Shannon Drouse, "I learned a lot of information, and it's a lot more complicated than most people think."
Read more...
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ACS Report: Cancer Death Rates Continue to Drop
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According to a recently released report, cancer death rates have continued to fall in the United States, for both men and women, maintaining a trend that began in the early 1990s. The report, entitled " Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2009," was released by the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
The report is a summation of what we know about the trends in mortality and incidence rates for the most common cancers in the United States among both men and women as well as the trends in death rates from those same cancers that lead to the highest mortality in the general population. Since the year 2000, the overall cancer death rates have continued to decline 1.8% per year in men, 1.4% in women and 0.6% per year in children. The report also showed that overall cancer incidence rates decreased 0.6% a year among men, and remained stable in women. Unfortunately, the incidence rates for childhood cancer increased 0.6% a year from 2000 through 2009. In his blog, Dr. Len Lechtenfield Deputy Medical Officer of the American Cancer Society, stated "Making cancer care more universally available is a major step in the right direction. Getting people access to effective screening and prompt and appropriate treatment if they are diagnosed with cancer is another." Dr. Lechtenfield added, "We could do better at getting the 'lifestyle' messages out to the population and creating an environment of health that will make it easier to adopt and implement healthy behaviors, such as maintaining a normal body weight, exercising, and eating a healthy diet." Read more...
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Public Policy and Education Committee Update
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The NH CCC Public Policy Education Committee (PPEC) is actively engaged in tracking key bills that have relevance to the Cancer Plan's objectives. As with every legislative session, things happen quickly and are always evolving.
One victory to note is the passage by the Senate of SB 17, a bill to form a study committee regarding Palliative Care in New Hampshire. It will now move to the House. Many thanks to NH CCC Palliation Work Group Co Chair Janice McDermott and Dr. Ira Byock from DHMC for providing such effective testimony.
A bill to prohibit expansion of Medicaid (HB 271) had a hearing in early February. The NH CCC Board signed in to oppose this bill due to its clear connection to the Cancer Plan's goal of improving access to care.
Governor Hassan has informed the US HHS that NH would like to enter into a partnership exchange under the Affordable Care Act. This partnership means more oversight by NH regulators and local access for consumers to regulators if they experience issues with the system.
The newly formed Tobacco Free New Hampshire (TFNH) is leading the way in responding to the many tobacco related bills this session. TFNH is led by Lee Gilman from the Lung Association and Albee Budnitz, MD, a well-respected former President of the NH Medical Society. Coordinated and carefully crafted statements upon which all partners agree will produce a strong response to various bills. While we are all pleased to hear Governor Hassan include restoration of as well as an additional increase in the tobacco tax in her budget, TFNH partners are able to articulate why this modest increase is insufficient to create a real public health benefit.
Stay tuned as this legislative session continues to unfold!
Nancy Kane and Mike Rollo, Co-Chairs
NH CCC PPEC
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Be One in a Million Hearts™
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Do you know someone who has had a heart attack or stroke? Maybe a family member, friend, or colleague? You're not alone. Heart disease and stroke are the first and fourth
leading causes of death in the United States, which represent 1 of every 3 deaths in the country. In NH, heart disease and
stroke are the second and fourth leading causes of deaths accounting for 27% of all deaths in the state." Additionally, heart disease and stroke are among the leading causes of disability in our country - keeping more than 3 million people from enjoying the quality of life they'd like.
Million Hearts, which was launched in September 2011, is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. This initiative brings together a wide range of health systems and partners to raise awareness of the issue and reduce heart disease and stroke deaths in our nation through preventive programs, policies, and activities.
What is the connection between the Million Hearts™ campaign and the goals of the NH CCC? They both share some common risk factors which they are working to reduce or control in our community.
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For More Information
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For more information about NH CCC go to our website
www.nhcancerplan.org or email info@nhcancerplan.org |
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