Masonic Cancer Center researcher DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D. has been named Minnesota Cancer Alliance chair for 2008. Read more.

The Minnesota Cancer Alliance (MCA) is a coalition of health care organizations, community-based groups, and volunteers that created and is now implementing Cancer Plan Minnesota. The plan provides a comprehensive and cohesive approach for coordinating cancer control and prevention activities in the state. Cancer is now the number one cause of death in Minnesota.

Cancer Plan Minnesota's four priorities are:

• promoting policies that will reduce the use of tobacco,
• reducing disparities in screening and treatment,
• increasing colon cancer screening, and
• improving patient access to information.

The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota is playing a key role in bringing Cancer Plan Minnesota to fruition.

The Masonic Cancer Center has an MCA advisory council whose goals are to:

• develop communication networks that provide information about the Minnesota Cancer Alliance to Masonic Cancer Center members,
• inform members about potential research projects that might lead to funding and papers, and
• integrate Minnesota Cancer Alliance priorities into Masonic Cancer Center projects.