MAINE CANCER CONSORTIUM

Cancer screening refers to the early detection of cancer or pre-cancerous changes in individuals who do not exhibit signs or symptoms suggestive of the disease. Detection of cancer before symptoms develop leads to the diagnosis of cancer at an earlier stage when treatment may improve health outcomes. Scientific evidence supports the use of screening for the early detection of some cancers, including breast, cervical and colorectal cancer. For other cancers, the evidence is less certain. For example, it is not clear yet whether screening for prostate cancer reduces mortality.

An effective early detection program has six components that must be present for a program to have an impact on cancer morbidity and mortality: public and patient education, professional referral, availability of services, access to services, quality assurance, and surveillance and evaluation of early detection activities and outcomes. Several national organizations, including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society, have developed screening guidelines for several types of cancer. These guidelines set the standard for cancer screening and represent the best in scientific knowledge and clinical practice to date. In utilizing these guidelines, it is essential that healthcare professionals employ a holistic approach to detection.

In addition to identifying cancer in its earliest stages, and therefore reducing mortality, early detection could substantially reduce the billions of dollars spent on cancer treatment each year. Not only does cancer screening save lives by detecting breast, cervical and colorectal cancer early; it is also the first step in preventing many cases of colorectal and cervical cancers from ever developing.

Did you know?
· Of Maine women aged 50 years or older, 17% reported not having had a mammogram within the last 2 years.

·Sixty-nine percent of Mainers aged 50 years or older reported not having had a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy within the last 5 years.

· Among adults aged 50 years or older, 79% of men and 69% of women reported not having had a fecal occult blood test within the past year.

Cancer Detection Priorities

To promote, increase, and optimize the appropriate utilization of high-quality breast cancer screening and follow-up services.
To reduce by 30% the rate of cervical cancer deaths by 2010.
To promote, increase, and optimize the utilization of high-quality colorectal cancer screening and follow-up services.
To reduce prostate cancer mortality in Maine by 2010.
Improve public and health care professional awareness of developments in cancer genetics.

Logic Model

The Consortium is working with the Maine Center for Public Health to evaluate our progress. To view the Early Detection logic model
click here.

Early Detection Work Group Membership

Netta Apedoe, Maine Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

Amy Black, Maine Center for Public Health

Kip DeSerres, American Cancer Society

James Ervin, Maine Coalition to Fight Prostate Cancer

Chriss Hayden, City of Portland, Portland Public Health

Nelson Leavitt, Maine Coalition to Fight Prostate Cancer

Don Magioncalda, Maine General Hospital

Katie Meyer, Maine CDC

Joe Mando, American Cancer Society

Heather Sylvester, Maine Center for Cancer Medicine and Blood Disorders (CHAIR)

Kini Tinkham, Family Planning Association of Maine

To get involved in Maine's cancer detection activities, contact Netta Apedoe at 287-4715.

Colon Cancer Task Force Members

Netta Apedoe, Maine Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

Peggy Belanger, Southern Maine Medical Center

Amy Black, Maine Center for Public Health

Shelly Bodkin, Calias Regional Hospital

John Bosco, Brunswick Gastroenterology Associates, P.A.

Steve Colman, Maine General Medical Center

Kip DeSerres, American Cancer Society

Andy Dionne, Maine Dartmouth Family Practice

Nicholette Erickson, Central Maine Medical Center

Jim Fortunato, Redington-Fairview General Hospital

Chriss Hayden, City of Portland, Portland Public Health

Michael Jones, Maine Medical Center

Don Magioncalda, Maine General Hospital

Joe Mando, American Cancer Society

Louann Magoon, Redington-Fairiview General Hospital

Melissa McAllister, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield

Katie Meyer, Maine Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

Susan Miesfeldt, Maine Center for Cancer Medicine and Maine Medical Center

Peter Millard, Eastern Maine Medical Center

Cyndi O'Brien, Maine Medical Center

Susan Rowan, Maine Cancer Foundation

Michael Roy, Maine Medical Center

Molly Schwenn, Maine Cancer Registry

Stephen Sears, Maine General Medical Center

Megan Smith, Maine General Medical Center

Sherri Woodward, Maine General Medical Center

To get involved in Maine's colon cancer activities, contact Joe Mando at 373-3730.

Current Activities

Many activities identifed in the Cancer Plan related to colon cancer have been initiated. They include:

· Review of national colon cancer screening guidelines

· Development of a consensus statement on colon cancer screening recommendations

·Focus groups held in three Maine communities to determine knowledge, attitude, and practices of colon cancer screening

· Assessment of Maine primary care physicians, gastroenterologists, and surgeons to determine the capacity for health care providers to increase colon cancer screening

· Development of a professional education presentation on colon cancer in Maine

· Making grand round presentations in Maine's hospitals on colon cancer

Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines & Presentation

In August 2002 the Maine Cancer Consortium's Colon Cancer Task Force Medical Advisory Committee released their recommendations for colon cancer screening for adults over the age of 50 with normal risk levels. For a copy of these recommendations click here.

Colon Cancer Physicians Power Point Presentation

Colon Cancer Consensus Statement

The Colon Cancer Medical Advisory Committee recommends that physicians, screening average risk adults aged 50 and older for colon cancer, follow the national guidelines by the American Cancer Society, American Medical Association Collaboration, American College of Gastroenterology, National Comprehensive Cancer Control Network, or the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The Colon Cancer Medical Advisory Committee does not recommend any one procedure for screening; rather, by following these recommendations, physicians are providing acceptable services, based on both patient and provider preferences.

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