Together we will reduce the burden of cancer in Wisconsin.
ENGAGE
Wisconsin Cancer Council News | Issue 99  | October 2017
A FOND FAREWELL

Dear WI Cancer Council Members,
 
It is with mixed emotions that I write to announce that after 14½ years, I am leaving my job as the WI CCC Program Director. I have accepted a new position with UW Health as a Project Manager for Strategy and Development -- doing system-base strategic projects to promote integration and growth across the UW Health System.
 
Change is never easy, but I know we have built such a strong WI CCC Program and WI Cancer Council in our state -- both of which will continue to flourish and thrive. I have been blessed to work with so many great partners over the years, and it made my decision a difficult one.  My last day in the WI CCC Program office is October 5 . The WI CCC Program staff will update you when they know more about a transition plan.
 
I am excited to see what the future holds for this strong coalition of partners dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer for Wisconsin. I will be filling out my WI Cancer Council commitment form as a Member Representative under UW Health, and I hope my path continues to cross with yours and with this important work!
 
With sincere thanks for making this one of the best jobs a Wisconsin girl could have imagined!
 
~Amy Conlon
LIVER CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Preventing Liver Cancer
The connection between liver cancer and hepatitis B and C

Click for infographics and public awareness materials from the CDC
Liver cancer. It's the fastest growing cause of cancer death across the nation, and in Wisconsin it's  sharply on the rise -- particularly among men.
 
Many of these deaths can be prevented by understanding liver cancer's most common culprit.
 
In the US, hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of liver cancer. The majority of cases are caused by hepatitis B or hepatitis C infections. Worldwide, hepatitis B and C cause more deaths than HIV, tuberculosis, or malaria. 

Early detection of hepatitis B and C is critical to preventing cancer. But chronic infections are often "clinically silent" -- most people who are infected don't realize it
 
What can you do?
 
Know who is at risk.
Vulnerable populations are at greater risk for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, such as:
  • People of color and immigrants from Asian and sub-Saharan African countries. According to the CDC, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders  make up less than 5 percent of the US population but more than 50 percent of US hepatitis B cases.
  • People born between 1945 and 1965. Members of this group are five times more likely to have Hepatitis C and represent 75 percent of chronic hepatitis C cases.
  • IV drug users. New hepatitis C cases are overwhelmingly caused by injection drug use -- a factor that also increases risk for hepatitis B.
  • People living with HIV. According to the CDC, 25 percent of people who are HIV positive also have Hepatitis C, and 10 percent also have Hepatitis B.
  • People who face obstacles to accessing care. Hardships such as lack of affordable insurance, incarceration, and homelessness increase risk for both hepatitis B and C.
Promote vaccines and screening.
  • Promote the hepatitis B vaccine, especially among people at higher risk. Currently only one quarter of all adults are fully immunized.
  • Test for hepatitis C. The CDC recommends everyone born between 1945-1965 get tested for Hepatitis C. Treatment can cure the infection in 8-12 weeks and reduces the risk of liver cancer by 75 percent.
  • Educate patients and communities. Health care workers can reduce stigma and increase awareness about the link between liver cancer and hepatitis B and C.
Learn more.
Bottom line: Liver cancer prevention is possible. 
CANCER POLICY NEWS
Introducing the Policy Roundup
A new tool to learn about cancer-related policy resources

You may have noticed a new communication from us in your inbox last month. The Policy Roundup is a mini-newsletter that gives WI Cancer Council members an inside look at the work of the Council's Policy Committee, and keeps you informed of the latest cancer-related policy news.
 
We created the Policy Roundup in response to your feedback during the member commitment process earlier this year. The vast majority of members wanted to learn more about the Council's policy agenda and receive more policy-related information.
 
The Policy Roundup will be sent quarterly, after each Policy Committee meeting, and will feature stories about major cancer-related policy topics and short updates on policy issues the Committee is tracking.
 
We hope you enjoyed the first edition. We are excited to develop new resources and tools that engage members and support the implementation of the WI Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan. Please let us know if you have feedback or suggestions to ensure these new tools are meeting your needs!
MEET THE GRANTEE
Cancer Screening in Milwaukee's Hmong Community
Reducing barriers, increasing access, and addressing disparities

In Milwaukee, home to the nation's fourth-largest Hmong community, Hmong residents are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at younger ages and later stages than other Wisconsinites.

In part this is because of alarmingly low screening rates among Hmong residents -- particularly pap tests, mammograms, and Hepatitis B tests, which could prevent or more quickly detect cervical, breast, and liver cancers.

"Cancer is viewed by the Hmong as a new disease, one that they were never exposed to in their homeland, and for which they do not even have a name," writes Mayhoua Moua, executive director of Southeast Asian Educational Development of Wisconsin, Inc., or SEAED.

With support from an Implementation Grant from the WI CCC Program, SEAD is increasing the number of Hmong women and men screened for breast, cervical, and liver cancers. The project, Healthy Hmong Families, is the first of its kind in Wisconsin.

SEAED has trained "youth health messengers" to talk at home with elders about the importance of cancer screening. Community health workers are leading workshops  in schools, churches, and community centers, to answer the question, What is cancer?

The project's first year culminated in a community health conference at UW-Milwaukee's Student Union, where doctors offered onsite blood pressure checks, h epatitis B tests, and breast exams. When a young mother was found to have a lump in her breast, doctors and staff were there to offer reassurance and guidance regarding next steps. 

How can you help?
Oral Cancer Resources
New issue brief & infographic

The WI CCC Program is excited to unveil two new resources to help raise awareness about oral cancer in Wisconsin: our latest issue brief, Oral Cancer Trends in Wisconsin, 1995-2014, and our latest infographic, Oral Cancer: Reducing the Burden in Wisconsin.
 
These tools, created in partnership with the WI Oral Health Program, can be used to raise awareness among policymakers and the public about risk factors associated with oral cancer -- such as alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to HPV.
 
Visit our issue brief archive and our Infographic Series to learn more.
All-Member Webinar
Don't forget to register

You still have time to  register for the all-member webinar, The State of the State: Cancer Control in Wisconsin, happening this Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 1-2 p.m. 

During the webinar, we will share a snapshot of what our fellow cancer control colleagues are doing across the state, and ask for your help to decide what issues the WI Cancer Council focuses on next.
 
Wednesday, Oct. 4
1-2 p.m.

Or email Sarah Kerch with questions.
Steering Committee Report
A quick recap of our quarterly meeting
The WI Cancer Council Steering Committee gathered in Madison last month to examine the 13 priorities and 45 strategies outlined in the WI CCC Plan and begin the process of prioritizing what the Council works on next.
 
Steering Committee members considered the following questions: What areas have the highest need? What areas are already being addressed by other coalitions? What would not get done if the WI Cancer Council did not focus on it?
 
Similar questions will be posed to the general membership in the upcoming all-member webinar, The State of the State: Cancer Control in Wisconsin. All WI Cancer Council members are encouraged to register and attend.
Events
Upcoming events from Cancer Council members


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

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 .

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 .
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 .
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.