61th VTAAC Quarterly Newsletter |
|
2022 Spring Update
This update is provided to share VTAAC news and resources, provide information on the progress of our current Vermont Cancer Plan, communicate meetings, events, projects, and enhance statewide collaboration. For additional information or meeting details, please contact VTAAC Coordinator, at coordinator@vtaac.org.
This quarter's newsletter addresses the following topics:
|
|
VTAAC Annual Cancer Summit |
Vermonters Taking Action Against Cancer is excited to introduce the 2022 VTAAC Annual Cancer Summit! This year, we are hosting a sequence of three virtual sessions focusing on health equity and cancer care in Vermont, framed around the new 2025 Vermont Cancer Plan.
The two-hour virtual sessions are free to anyone interested in addressing cancer in Vermont.
|
Session 1
Understanding and Addressing Cancer Equity in Vermont
Friday, April 1, 2022, 10 am - 12 pm
Participants will learn about the 2025 Vermont Cancer Plan and become more educated on the disparities that exist in cancer diagnosis and treatment across historically underrepresented groups (i.e., BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Vermonters living with disabilities and low-income Vermonters) and the importance of cultural competence strategies in reducing health disparities.
|
Vermont Department of Health Data Spotlight
Tobacco Use in Vermont
|
Nearly two-thirds of cancers diagnosed in the U.S. can be linked to preventable behaviors, and tobacco-use is estimated to account for 29% of all preventable cancers. Out of every 100,000 Vermonters, approximately 182.2 are diagnosed with a tobacco-related cancer each year (Vermont Cancer Registry, 2014-2018).
|
|
Vermont has a higher rate of tobacco-use than the US. Some populations in Vermont smoke more than others, and tobacco-use is often tied to the social determinants of health including food insecurity and lack of access to adequate housing, transportation and education. For example, individuals who rent their home, have household incomes less than 250% of the federal poverty line, have a disability, or identify as Native American smoke at higher rates than Vermonters in general.
|
|
Any heavy smokers aged 50 to 80 who currently smoke or who quit within the past 15 years are recommended to receive lung cancer screening, though in 2019 only 26% of eligible Vermonters received the potentially life-saving screening. For more information on how to quit smoking and any form of tobacco, see the 802 Quits Program. For more information on tobacco use in Vermont, explore The Vermont Department of Health’s tobacco data.
|
|
VTAAC Membership Evaluation Update |
The Vermont Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC) evaluation team from Professional Data Analysts (PDA) is partnering with the CCC Program team and the VTAAC Steering Committee to examine membership composition, representation, and engagement. Some of the highlights from a recent analysis of VTAAC membership data are:
- VTAAC currently has 679 members that represent over 100 distinct organizations.
- Some members’ participation in VTAAC has been longstanding! 20% of VTAAC’s current membership have involved in VTAAC for 7 years or longer.
- The engaged process of developing the 2025 Vermont Cancer Plan between 2019 and 2021 brought in more members: VTAAC membership increased by 19% during this period.
We received updated member information from 83 VTAAC members. Thank you to those who provided that information! This effort is on-going, so if you haven’t had a chance, please consider updating your member information here: www.vtaac.org.
Looking ahead, the evaluation team will continue to examine what’s working well and identify opportunities for improvement within the VTAAC coalition, the CCC Program, and as strategies of the 2025 Cancer Plan and other statewide cancer efforts continue.
If you have questions about the Vermont CCC evaluation, please contact Kate LaVelle, lead evaluator, at klavelle@pdastats.com.
|
|
VTAAC Workplan
All Vermonters play an important role in addressing the impact of cancer within our communities. Please help us develop Vermont's cancer plan by telling us how you take action to reduce the impact of cancer. Working together we can strengthen our partnerships and support the actions that will help create a healthier Vermont.
|
|
VTAAC Member or Organization Highlight
We want to hear from you. Do you have an organization or a person making a difference for Vermonters effected by cancer that you would like to highlight in our next newsletter or on social media? Let us know below!
|
|
April Awareness Month
Testicular Cancer
Esophageal Cancer
Head and Neck Cancer
May Awareness Month
Melanoma and Skin Cancer
Brain Cancer
June Awareness Month
National Cancer Survivor Month
For information about clinical trials near you:
|
|
VTAAC Member Events
Vermont Cancer Survivor Network
Successfully developing their calendar of events. Anyone can contribute their events to this calendar. Link: https://vcsn.net/calendar/
Fundraisers to Support Local Organizations Helping Those Impacted By Cancer
December is often the peak fundraising season for many local organizations. These groups provide a huge source of support for those impacted by cancer in our communities. For those who have the means, donating and volunteering to these organizations is a great way to make an impact on the lives of Vermonters.
|
|
Upcoming VTAAC Meetings
VTAAC Steering Committee Meeting - 1st Thursday of every odd month 11:00am- 12:30 pm
*If you are interested in joining any of these meetings please email
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
