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August 2015


"Our recent launch of the
2015-2020 New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan
reflects on what is often called a 'life course approach', acknowledging that an individual's health status is influenced by broader structural, social, and cultural contexts."

Robert Gerlach
Chair, Board of Directors
 
Protect Your Skin

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Because the majority of cases are linked to an overexposure of ultraviolet (UV) rays, from the sun or indoor tanning devices alike, it is also one of the most preventable cancers. 

NH ranks second highest in the nation for new melanoma diagnoses and seventh highest for melanoma death rate.

Read more...
 
NEWS
 
CNN, 8/201/5
Resources
Foundation for Healthy Communities, 2015 NH Prevention Guidelines

Community Preventive Services Task Force, 2014-2015 Annual Report to Congress- Special update on Recommendations to Prevent Cancers

 Treatment's Over: Now What? GW Cancer Institute's resources for both survivors and providers.

 Cancer Survivorship E-Learning Series for Primary Care Providers- Cancer Recovery and Rehabilitation. One hour free continuing education module to learn about rehabilitation and other interventions to assist in physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery of cancer survivors post-treatment.

State Cancer Profiles released new and updated data by state from NCI SEER, CDC NPCR, National Vital Statistics System, Diet and Exercise data from BRFSS, smoking law data from Americans for Nonsmokers Rights, and HPV vaccination data from National Immunization Survey.



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Message from the Board Chair: Robert Gerlach
- Life Course of the Collaboration
Robert Gerlach
I always refer to "cancer centers," in contrast to "institutes," because it better conveys a  continuum of care, from prevention to palliation, and a range of considerations at each time point, as illustrated for example in tumor board participation.  Our recent launch of the "2015-2020 New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan" reflects on what is often called a "life course approach," acknowledging that an individual's health status is influenced by broader structural, social, and cultural contexts. 

As I write my first "Message from the Chair," I am struck how the activity of the Collaboration extends beyond the annual meeting of its members and the bi-monthly convening of its Board Members.

New Members Welcomed to the Board of Directors 
The Collaboration elected eight new members to its Board of Directors. Cheryl Bernier of Hooksett; Scott Colby of Londonderry; Donna Dubuc of Manchester; Lee Gilman of Brunswick, ME; Elizabeth McGrath of Manchester Center, Vermont; David Nalepinski of Sharon, VT; Roshani Patel of Hooksett; and Terry Steiner of Concord, were welcomed to the Board as new members on Friday, August 7, 2015, joining 13 other colleagues.

Promoting and Coordinating Best Practice Lung Cancer Screening in New Hampshire 
New Hope in the Fight against Lung Cancer
 
On June 30th over 40 health care professionals participated in a Lung Cancer Screening Summit. The overarching goal of the Summit was to bring together key individuals and organizations to begin to define what the lung cancer screening system should look like to meet the needs of New Hampshire residents.

Dr. William Black and Dr. Taylor Ortiz provided an overview of the development of lung cancer screening initiatives at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Wentworth-Douglass hospitals. Members of the NH Comprehensive Cancer Collaboration's Shared Decision-Making Task Force discussed the importance of including a shared decision-making approach to allow patients and their providers to make decisions regarding screening, based upon scientific evidence and a patient's values and preferences. 

Immunotherapy: Targeting Cancer with the Immune System
Immune cells (CD8 T cells) attack a cancer cell
Immune cells (CD8 T cells) attack a cancer cell
The NH Comprehensive Cancer Collaboration, in partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center, is pleased to release a new emerging issue brief that highlights the potential for immunotherapy to revolutionize cancer therapy in coming years. 


Immunotherapies are a class of treatments that trigger or enhance normal anti-cancer immune system activity, restoring the immune system's ability to fight cancer.

Public Policy Education Committee Update
We made great strides this year in our advocacy efforts. From banning youth access to indoor tanning facilities, to capping out of pocket insurance costs for oral chemotherapies, the Collaboration's Public Policy and Education Committee worked with many advocates to coordinate testimony, letters, and calls to policy makers to help make these victories possible.  The Committee looks forward to next year and welcomes new members! The next meeting will be held by conference call on December 4. Contact [email protected] for more information. 

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Implements Tobacco-Free Work Policy

Change is in the air-in recognition of World No Tobacco Day, May 31st - the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) implemented a tobacco-free workplace policy. The Tobacco-Free at Work Policy is an important step for the health of everyone who works in, visits, or resides in any of the NH DHHS buildings.

"As the State's health department, it is vital that we lead by example", said  DHHS Commissioner Nick Toumpas.  "We hope others will follow our lead as we strive for a healthier New Hampshire." The policy went into effect on Monday, June, 1, 2015 and applies to all DHHS clients, visitors, employees and their families when on DHHS properties.

Nashua Launches Video Series to Help Patients Improve Communication with Providers 

 Access to health care is an important component of fostering a healthy community, detecting cancer at its earliest stage, and for increasing the quality of life of individuals, which are the pillars of the 2015-2020 New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan.


 

"My Health. My Care." is an educational video series that was developed by the City of Nashua, Division of Public Health and Community Services and the Access to Health Care Work Group to help residents better understand how to navigate the healthcare system and feel more confident when they communicate with their healthcare providers.

Community Health Workers: An Innovative Approach to Cancer Care in New Hampshire
Community Health Workers in NH are uniquely positioned to support the new NH Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan. The title, Community Health Worker (CHW), is a relatively new term in NH but has been in use globally since the early 1960s.  A CHW is someone who builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy (APHA 2014). 

Although our healthcare system has made significant medical and technological advances, challenges are still present making it difficult for patients to access and manage their health care needs. CHWs play an important role in filling this gap by educating and promoting cancer screening and prevention to NH patients and families.

Changes to Real Estate Law Highlights Radon and Arsenic Hazards
Home buyers will see new language about radon and arsenic in real estate contracts beginning in 2016. Radon and arsenic are both carcinogens, occurring commonly in New Hampshire homes and groundwater. In 2010, the N.H. Environmental Public Health Tracking Program estimated that radon exposure leads to the deaths of 100 N.H. residents each year.(I) In 2014, researchers at Dartmouth College estimated that treatment of water from private wells to the level of five parts per billion could avoid 600 cases of cancer among the current N.H. population, and further noted that this is likely an underestimate of health effects. (II)

Implementing Sun Safety Programs for Preschoolers in New Hampshire 
  The Penacook Community Center was invited by CATCH Global Foundation to have a staff member participate in the CATCH Sun Safety Training pilot program in Austin Texas. 
Governor Hassan signed a law last month that bans indoor tanning in those under age 18. NH CCC congratulates those who worked on the passage of this bill and is grateful to the governor in taking this step to prevent future cases of cancer. Both indoor and outdoor tanning are sources of UV exposure that are linked to serious types of skin cancer.

Upcoming Events

The Seventh Annual C. Everett Koop, MD Tobacco Treatment Conference: Moving the Koop Legacy Forward. September 25, Fairlee, VT

 

 2nd Annual Get Your Rear in Gear 5K, September 26, 2015, Gould Hill Farm, Hopkinton, NH- raise funds for colon cancer awareness efforts in our community 


 

 HEAL NH Annual Conference: Leadership for Policy and System Change, October 1, Concord, NH

 

Celebrating a Quarter Century of Public Health with CHI and NH Public Health Association at the Red River Theater, October 6, Concord, NH - 4:30 pm to 7pm

 

NHHA and FHC Annual Meeting, Transforming Health Care Through New Partnerships, October 18 - 20, Bretton Woods, NH


 

 NNECOS 2015 Annual Meeting & Palliative Care Symposium, October 23-24, Portland, ME 


 

 The SHARE Approach: Learning Essential Steps in Shared Decision Making, Oct. 30, Plymouth State University, 2 Pillsbury Ave, Concord, NH  9-4:30 


 

Foundation for Healthy Communities Fall Forum, Save the Date- November 17, Courtyard by Marriott- Grappone Conference Center, Concord. More soon


 

 You are the Key to HPV Cancer Prevention, Schedule a 1 hour lunch and learn workshop for your organization


 

 Free 50 minute online training- Responsive Practice: Providing Mammography to Women with Disabilities 

For More Information

For more information about NH CCC go to our website 
www.nhcancerplan.org
or email
[email protected] 

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