Comprehensive Cancer Control Program Monthly Updates and Events

Washington State Department of Health sent this bulletin at 05/16/2023 10:52 AM PDT

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Washington Cancer Partnership

WA CARES About Cancer Partnership
Monthly Updates & Events

May 2023

DEAR WA CARES,

 

Welcome to the May edition of WA CARES about Cancer Partnership briefer.

Did you hear about the upcoming state-wide Cancer Coalition in Washington? Join us on June 13th, 2023, for the Kickoff meeting of WA State Cancer Coalition at the SEATAC International Conference Center. Can’t make it to the SEATAC conference center? Don’t worry, you can join online too. Click here to register and check out this newsletter’s upcoming events section to learn more about this event. 

May is skin cancer awareness month. Read more about the “Don’t Fry Day” event and other skin cancer awareness resources to support your organization’s skin cancer prevention campaigns. In this newsletter you can also find a collection of resources for cancer rehabilitation services & “No Menthol Sunday” observance.

Do you have a program update or an event that you'd like to share? We want to hear from you! Contact me today.

 

Warm Regards,

Sahla Suman TE
Implementation Coordinator 
Comprehensive Cancer Control Program 
Prevention and Community Health
WA State Department of Health
360-742-1467
Sahla.Suman@doh.wa.gov 

Table of Contents

"Public Health- Always working for a safer and healthier Washington."
- WA State Dept. of Health

Upcoming Events

Cancer Coalition Kick-Off meeting

WA State Cancer Coalition Kick -Off Meeting, June 13th

Washington State is re-launching its state-wide Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition guided by a 5-Year Cancer Control Plan. Partners including Fred Hutch Cancer Center and American Cancer Society have already signed on to help co-lead this event. This will be a hybrid (In-Person and Virtual) event hosted at SEATAC International Conference Center.

In order to build a state-wide cancer plan, we need your valuable input. Together, we can coordinate efforts, overcome challenges, and accomplish goals to prevent cancer and alleviate the impacts of cancer on our communities. Registration is now open, to register please click here.

Colorectal Cancer Task Force Meeting

Are you interested in joining the Washington State Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Task Force? The CRC Task Force's mission is to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to improve existing screening programs through partnerships, promote screening options, and the overall education of Washington residents on colorectal cancer prevention.

Contact Sahla Suman at Sahla.Suman@doh.wa.gov to join the next WA State CRC Task Force meeting online on June 23rd, 2023.

Don't Fry Day: May 26, 2023

Skin Cancer Awareness

May is skin cancer awareness month. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, is caused by overexposure to Ultraviolet (UV) rays. To increase awareness about harmful effects of sunburn and promote sun safety behaviors, the Friday before Memorial Day is observed as “Don’t Fry Day”. This year’s “Don’t Fry Day” is on May 26th. Click on and share the following resources in your network to increase awareness of skin cancer and promote sun safety behaviors:

No Menthol Sunday: May 21, 2023

No Menthol Sunday

Menthol flavoring in cigarettes makes the smoking experience less harsh and more difficult to quit. By offering discounts and placing large advertisements of the menthol flavored tobacco products, the tobacco industry has been purposefully targeting the Black communities. Led by the Center for Black Health & Equity "No Menthol Sunday" is an annual observance that brings in faith leaders and their communities to address the disproportionate impact of tobacco on Black Communities. This year’s “No Menthol Sunday” is on May 21st. Visit the following resources to learn more about “No Menthol Sunday”, and tobacco cessation programs:

Cancer Rehabilitation Resources

Moving through cancer

Cancer rehabilitation medicine helps individuals with or who had cancer stay as active as possible in work, family, and other parts of their life. It can help people keep or improve their quality of life. Click on the given resources shared by our partners at Fred Hutch to learn more about cancer rehabilitation and resources:

HPV Roundtable Briefing

HPV roundtable

The HPV Free Washington Leadership Task Force organized the WA State HPV Roundtable virtually on April 28th, 2023. Speakers including representative from national HPV roundtable and state HPV programs shared information on the latest update of HPV vaccination recommendation to start age 9. They shared data on the benefits and effectiveness of HPV vaccine starting at age 9. The speakers also emphasized the disparities in HPV vaccination, and oral cancer rates especially in rural areas across the state.

Besides the community and provider training sessions, the HPV Roundtable also contained a panel discussion on engaging oral healthcare providers to promote HPV vaccination starting at age 9, and early diagnosis of oropharyngeal cancers, in which panelists included a pediatrician, general and pediatric dentists. Thank you everyone who attended the roundtable. If you missed this event, resources shared at the roundtable will be available soon on WithinReach website.