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Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer | VTAAC
70th VTAAC Quarterly Newsletter
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Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer (VTAAC) provides a forum for collaboration, engagement and sharing of resources for individuals and organizations concerned about cancer in Vermont.
VTAAC Quarterly Newsletters share VTAAC news and resources, provide information on the progress of our 2025 Vermont Cancer Plan, communicate meetings and events, and enhance statewide collaboration.
For additional information or meeting details, please visit our website or reach out to Hanna at coordinator@vtaac.org.
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Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month | |
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March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! The VTAAC Colorectal Cancer Taskforce has put together communication materials on VTAAC’s website to share messaging to the public about the importance of getting screened. If you are looking for graphics, social media toolkits and other colorectal cancer fast facts, click the button below to check out shareable resources.
VTAAC has also recently supported Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in their efforts to increase colorectal cancer screening through implementation of evidence-based interventions. If you would like to learn more, please email coordinator@vtaac.org.
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ICYMI: New VTAAC Co-Chair! | |
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In case you missed it: Rebecca Hewson-Steller, Nurse Navigator at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, is our new VTAAC Co-Chair, alongside Justin Pentenrieder, You First Program Manager at the Vermont Department of Health.
Rebecca works as a champion for cancer prevention and screening at the SVMC Cancer Center. She is a part of many of our VTAAC taskforces, including being the Chair of the Colorectal Cancer Taskforce. Rebecca brings so much clinical expertise and a passion for collaboration. We are thrilled to have her as our VTAAC Co-Chair!
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Coalition Activity Highlights | |
Quality of Life
Taskforce
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The Quality of Life Taskforce received CDC supplemental funds for survivorship work last July. Through the support of VTAAC's external evaluators, Professional Data Analysts, the group has decided to use some of the funds to create a more robust Survivorship Resource Center on VTAAC's website. This will be a resource for all those impacted by cancer.
The group will be convening soon to review the first draft of the webpage, receive feedback from partners and survivors, and then once finalized, determine a dissemination plan.
If you are interested in being a part of this project, please email Hanna Snyder, VTAAC Coalition Coordinator.
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Prevention & Detection Taskforce | |
The first Prevention & Detection Taskforce held in 2024 was focused on prostate cancer. Sharon Mallory and Lauren Ressue at the Vermont Department of Health shared a presentation focused on the Vermont Cancer Plan prostate cancer goals and current prostate cancer data. Scott Perrapato, Urologic Oncologist Director at UVM Medical Center, discussed recent science, screening recommendations and gaps/opportunities in prostate cancer screening.
The group is now determining how the taskforce can support prostate cancer work and will continue the conversation at a group meeting in early spring (date TBD).
If you are interested in being a part of this conversation, please email Hanna Snyder, VTAAC Coalition Coordinator.
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To learn more about current projects for all of our taskforces, check out the latest Coalition Activities Update slideshow presented at our last Steering Committee meeting in February. | |
Vermont Department of Health Data Update | |
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Colorectal Cancer in Vermont
Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer among Vermonters (Vermont Cancer Registry and Vital Statistics 2016-2020). While incidence rates of colorectal cancer have been decreasing since 1985, rates among Vermonters ages 20-49 have been increasing since 1994.
In 2021, recognizing the increasing incidence among younger adults, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force expanded its recommendations for who should receive screening for colorectal cancer to include all adults ages 45-75. There are several different options for screening.
About 70% of Vermonters ages 45-75 meet the screening guidelines, more than the 66% of adults in the US. Vermonters who identify as BIPOC and those with a household income less than 250% of the federal poverty level are less likely to be up to date on their screening (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey 2022).
|  | Regular screening allows for the detection of colorectal cancer at an early stage when prognosis is good and often can prevent colorectal cancer by including removal of abnormal growths before they develop into cancer. | |
Do You Have a Newsletter? | | |
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If your organization has a patient, provider or community newsletter, please let us know! VTAAC is compiling a list of statewide health and cancer-related communications, such as blogs, newsletters, and website banners. We want to be able to share cancer-focused awareness and educational information to more Vermonters. To do this, we need your help.
Email Hanna with the following information:
- Name of newsletter
- Your contact name/email
- Newsletter audience (i.e. patients, public, providers)
- Frequency of newsletter (i.e. monthly, quarterly)
- Submission requirements (i.e. word count, image size)
- Deadline for submission
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Most Vermonters who smoke or use tobacco want to quit, and your patients may be looking to you for support! 802Quits is here to support all Vermonters, from providers to patients, with online trainings, free materials, and more. To learn how to best support your patients, access resources, make a referral to the quitline, or simply learn more about 802Quits, please visit 802Quits.org. | |
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*New* UVM Cancer Center Annual Report now Online
The annual report celebrates the impact of the UVM Cancer Center's work across the four pillars: research, education, community outreach, and clinical care and the incredible researchers, clinicians, and community members who make this work possible.
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Upcoming Cancer Awareness Months | | | | |
