Over 235 people attended the Cancer Summit April 22, 2008, in Brooklyn Park, Minn., to learn about cancer statistics, disparities, and advocacy efforts in Minnesota, and what they could do to help reduce cancer incidence and deaths in the state. The Cancer Summit was organized by the Minnesota Cancer Alliance, a coalition of health care organizations, community-based groups, and volunteers.

The Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota is an active member organization of the Minnesota Cancer Alliance. Many staff and faculty serve on its committees and task forces. DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D., co-leader of the Masonic Cancer Center's Prevention and Etiology Research Program, is the 2008 Alliance chair.

Minnesota cancer statistics: incidence up, mortality down

Carin Perkins, Ph.D., principal epidemiologist for Minnesota's Cancer Surveillance System, provided attendees with an overview of cancer data for the state. She said the overall cancer mortality rate has dropped by 14 percent since its highest point in 1992; the majority of this decline took place between 2000 and 2006.

"This achievement didn't happen by accident," said Perkins. "It happened because of huge efforts to reduce smoking, increase screening, and reduce the stigma of cancer through education. It happened because of research to develop better treatments. It happened because cancer patients were willing to test those treatments and because physicians translated those improvements into practice." She added: "We still have a long way to go. Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Minnesota, but real progress has been made—and the Minnesota Cancer Alliance is part of the power behind this progress."

View slides from the "Lay of the Land: Cancer Data Update" presentation by Perkins.

Working sessions encourage active collaboration

The Cancer Summit included working sessions that addressed access to colorectal cancer screening; reaching underserved communities; expanding smoking cessation benefits; cancer survivor care plans, and cancer genomics. At these sessions, attendees were briefed on issues related to their session topic and then were asked to participate in small-group discussions and work together to strategize next steps.

In her opening remarks at the Summit, Alliance Chair Lazovich explained the purpose of the working sessions: "This Summit is a departure from those in past years, which have been primarily about making connections and sharing knowledge. While this will still occur to some extent, we have planned working sessions for today. These sessions are where you will have a chance to engage with each other about actions, that you or your organization, can take locally or state-wide, to achieve meaningful reductions in cancer incidence and mortality."

View slides from the working sessions.

Attendees share knowledge at poster session

The Cancer Summit's poster and "Take-One" table presentations covered topics in the areas of prevention, screening, treatment, and quality of life.

Marva Bohen, R.N., director of outreach and education for the Masonic Cancer Center presented "Fighting Cancer Health Disparities"; Nancy Youngren, R.N., from the University of Minnesota Physicians Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic, presented "Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic for Adult Survivors of Childhood and Young Adult Cancer"; and a poster by Prevention and Etiology Research Program member Steven Fu, M.D., M.S.C.E., "Smoking Cessation in Minnesota Indian Communities," was also on display.

Summit recognizes effective partnerships

The inaugural Spirit of Collaboration Awards at the Cancer Summit were awarded to individuals and groups to acknowledge their dedication to comprehensive cancer control initiatives. Masonic Cancer Center Community Advisory Board member Janet Smith Yee was part of a group that received honorable mention for creating a cervical cancer screening tool kit reminder card. Visit the Alliance Web site for a complete list of award recipients.