Together we will reduce the burden of cancer in Wisconsin.
ENGAGE
Wisconsin Cancer Council News | Issue 100  | November 2017
CELEBRATING 100 ISSUES

For 100 issues, you've counted on our monthly dispatch of cancer control news and resources. 

Today, in honor of that history, we're excited to unveil the WI Cancer Council's  Facebook page !  Now we can share  news and resources with you as soon as they become available. 

Please LIKE US and share with your friends!
HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE
Open Enrollment Now Open
What the cancer community needs to know

Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace has opened! Despite federal efforts to repeal the ACA, health insurance plans are still available statewide. Most people qualify for discounts when they shop at Healthcare.gov.
 
Some key points to remember:
  • Open enrollment is shorter this year. Remind consumers they must renew or sign up by December 15, 2017, to receive 2018 coverage.
  • Although premiums have increased, 80 percent of Wisconsinites receive discounts that shield them from these increases. It is important to shop around this year to find the best deal.
  • Cost-sharing reductions, which lower co-pays and deductibles, are still available. The federal government stopped paying these to insurers, but insurers are still required by the ACA to provide the discounts to consumers. Some people may even find cheaper plans this year because of this change.
  • Although funding for navigator programs and other outreach efforts was reduced earlier this year, free enrollment help is still available throughout Wisconsin. Consumers can call 2-1-1 or schedule an appointment online.
It is especially important that cancer patients and survivors have health insurance plans that meets their health needs and protect against the high costs of cancer care.
 
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Don't Miss This Resource:
a how-to sheet from Covering WI
LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Lung Cancer in Wisconsin
New push to add lung cancer screening to the WI CCC Plan

Lung cancer. It's a leading cause of cancer death in Wisconsin and the nation. In honor of  Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we're taking a closer look at what the WI Cancer Council is doing to address this disease.
 
With the use of low-dose CT scans, lung cancer can be detected earlier, and treatment can be more effective.

But  lung cancer screening is relatively new. When the  WI CCC Plan came out in June 2015, it did not include measures to track lung cancer screening rates in Wisconsin. Our Steering Committee is remedying this omission. As a result, WI CCC Program staff are working to add and monitor lung cancer screening rates (along with rates for breast, cervical and colorectal  cancer screening).

Why is this important? Because lung cancer is deadly, often preventable (80 percent of  lung cancer deaths in Wisconsin are caused by smoking), and disproportionately experienced in African American and Native populations.


United States WI - ALL WI - African American WI -
Hispanic		 WI - Non-Hispanic White
LUNG CANCER
INCIDENCE		 56.3 61.1 92.8 35.7 59.6
LUNG CANCER
MORTALITY
46.0 44.9 71.0 16.1 43.9
SOURCE: WI DEPT. OF HEALTH SERVICES and WI CANCER FACTS & FIGURES 2016

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Know the screening recommendations. The US Preventative Services Task Force recommends screening for anyone age 55-80 who has a history of heavy smoking and either smokes now or quit within the past 15 years.
 
Support patients and caregivers. Free to Breathe, a Council member organization (which recently merged with the Lung Cancer Research Foundation), offers tools for patients and caregivers such as a Support Line, patient FAQs, and free booklets and flyers. (Find other Council members addressing lung cancer by logging into our members-only Networking Directory.)
 
Address disparities. In Wisconsin, American Indians/Native Alaskans and African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with and die from lung cancer. Access to tobacco cessation and screening services are critically important in these populations. 
 
Implement the WI CCC Plan.  Learn how to take action to p revent youth access to tobacco products; increase use of evidence-based tobacco addiction treatment; increase access to lung cancer screening; protect and strengthen clean air laws. 
 
Together we can decrease lung cancer and its impact on all Wisconsinites. 
HPV SUMMITS UPDATE
"HPV Vaccine Champions" Unite
Advancing the cancer-fighting tool of the HPV vaccine

Dr. Jim Conway, UW SMPH, speaking at the Eau Claire HPV Summit
More than 130 people gathered last month in Green Bay and Eau Claire for the Wisconsin HPV Vaccination Summits, to learn how to increase HPV vaccination rates across Wisconsin.
 
HPV can cause head and neck, cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, and penile cancers. But in Wisconsin only 38 percent of boys and less than 54 percent of girls ages 13-17  have completed the full two-dose HPV vaccination series.
 
The Summits included education about the link between HPV and cancer risk, inspiring survivor testimonials, and strategies for improving immunization rates.
 
"Engaging HPV vaccine champions across Wisconsin is critical to increasing HPV immunization rates," said Sarah Mroz, MPH, outreach program coordinator for the WI CCC Program. Increasing HPV vaccine completion is Priority 4 of the Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan.
 
Did you miss the Summits? You can view many useful resources  shared with Summit attendees.

The Summits were made possible by a dedicated team of organizers, sponsors, and speakers, and were presented by the WI Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, WI DHS Immunization Program, Scenic Rivers Area Health Education Center, and the WI Comprehensive Cancer Control Program.
ACTION PLAN UPDATE
Action Plans: What Happens Next
The Council takes the lead in four critical areas
 
A quick recap: We're narrowing the 13-priority WI CCC Plan  to four action areas, to accelerate progress in areas of greatest need.
 
Thanks to you, we are a big  step closer to finalizing the Action Plans that will guide the WI Cancer Council's work for the next three years.
 
Last month 68 Council members attended the State of the State: Cancer Control in Wisconsin Webinar to learn about the Action Plan selection process. And 70 members, via the post-webinar survey, gave input on where the Council should take the lead (or play a supporting role).
 
The Steering Committee reviewed your feedback. Quickly some themes emerged. You were overwhelmingly interested in:
After carefully examining your input, as well as cancer control trends from across Wisconsin, the Steering Committee chose four action areas:
  1. Increase providers' use of standards of care for cancer treatment and symptom management
  2. Increase the use of recommended cancer screenings
  3. Increase awareness of the connection between alcohol use and cancer risk
  4. Increase HPV vaccine completion
Throughout November and December, the Steering Committee will work with staff to develop Action Plans for these four areas. Members will review the Action Plans, offer input, and discuss ways to get involved in a series of member webinars in early 2018 (stay tuned for dates!).
 
Thank you for helping us identify these four areas of critical need. How t o take action will be a central theme of our Regional Meetings in April 2018. If you have immediate ideas or input, please let us know !
 
NOTE: While Action Plans will provide focus, they will not replace the  WI CCC Plan . We will continue to track emerging issues and monitor all areas of the WI CCC Plan. Interested in seeing the full post-webinar survey results? Please email Sarah Kerch 
to request a copy.
2018 Summit News
Focusing on health disparities

C ancer health disparities are a problem in Wisconsin . As members of the WI Cancer Council, we can do more to achieve equitable cancer outcomes. 

Learn more at the 2018 WI Cancer Council Summit . The Steering Committee has approved the theme of "cancer health disparities" for the next all-member Summit , Nov. 15, 2018, at the Edgewater Hotel in Madison. 

We are actively recruiting speakers and panel/workshop ideas. Please share your ideas with Sarah Kerch , and look for more Summit details in early 2018.

New to the Council? Check out the materials from the 2017 Annual Meeting !
Palliative Care
A preview of our new issue brief

Learn about ways to expand access to palliative care  in the upcoming issue brief from the WI Cancer Council.

Wisconsin is poised to become the latest state to introduce legislation to form a Palliative Care Advisory Council. 

Palliative care provides relief from the pain and stress of serious illness.  More than 92 percent  of patients and caregivers express an interest in this kind of care, but access in Wisconsin is uneven.

Learn more in  Palliative Care: Improving the Quality of Life of All Wisconsin Cancer Patients , written in collaboration with the Palliative Care Network of Wisconsin. Coming soon -- watch your inbox!
Events
Upcoming events from Cancer Council members


See our full member events calendar online. 
Add your events by emailing the details to Carrie Kilman.
Resources
Tools to advance your cancer control work
Networking Directory 
Connect with other members across the state through our highly searchable, data-rich member directory tool. (Must be logged in.)
>>  Learn more.

The WI CCC Plan
Use our interactive, online Cancer Control Plan to explore action steps and strategies to advance your cancer control work.
>>  Learn more.
Designed to easily communicate complex ideas, our infographics are perfect to share with patients, partners, and constituencies.
>>  L earn more .

Facts & Figures
Helpful cancer statistics in a short, easy-to-read format, in WI Cancer Facts & Figures. Data on multiple cancer sites available to view and download.
>>  Learn more .
Your Role in Cancer Control
How can you or your organization advance cancer control in WI? Use this tool to identify the action steps most relevant to your work.
>>  Learn more .
Newsletter Archive
Did you miss a past issue or want to share it with a colleague? Find every issue going back to January 2015 in our online newsletter archive. 
>>  Learn more .


Do you have an announcement, event, or story idea? 
ENGAGE is a monthly publication for members of the Wisconsin Cancer Council. Its purpose is the share news and information about cancer prevention and control with our members across Wisconsin.