“Too many people in our country are not reaching their full potential for health because of preventable conditions. Moreover, Americans receive only about half the preventive services that are recommended—a finding that highlights the national need for improved health promotion.” So begins a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine titled “Promoting Prevention through the Affordable Care Act” by Koh and Sebelius.

Our North Dakota Cancer Coalition Steering committee met on September 24, 2010 at Jamestown College to review the draft of our new cancer plan chapters developed by our workgroups. We looked at the special considerations for finalizing our plan including emphasis on primary prevention, coordinating early detection and treatment interventions, addressing public health needs of cancer survivors, implementing policy/system or environmental changes to sustain our efforts, and eliminate barriers to the medically underserved. It was impressive to see the enthusiasm and expertise of the Steering committee. We will soon have a draft of the cancer plan ready for review.

We have a unique opportunity to improve public health through our state cancer plan. For example, 57.1% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at late stage. We have two colonoscopy screening projects funded by our state to prevent and find cancer early, at the curable stage. In the future, if we have success there will be increased funding and coverage through the Affordable Care Act to sustain what we accomplished. We will learn how to educate our communities to participate in recommended cancer screening practices.

We have a great team assembled and all of you contribute through your unique expertise. Let us know about your ideas and participate in our work groups and committees.

These are exciting times!

Letter from the Chair

N.D. Cancer Connection A quarterly update from the North Dakota Cancer Coalition.

Inside this Issue: Letter from the Chair 1 Bismarck Goes Smoke-FREE 2 Race for the Cure 2 Sneak-a-Peak 3 New Career 3 NDCC Website 3 Member Spotlight 4 Fruits and Veggies 4 Bras on Broadway 5 Spirit of Eagles 5 LIVESTRONG 5 Become Involved 6

Fall Issue 2010

Dr. John Leitch

October Breast Cancer Awareness Month

November Lung Cancer Awareness Month

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As a result of great efforts by the Bismarck Tobacco-Free Coalition and national partners, including American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and Americans for Non Smoking Rights, on August 24 the Bismarck City Commis-sion passed an ordinance that will provide health and safety to all employ-ees by prohibiting tobacco smoke in bars and truck stops on a 4-1 vote. Only one commissioner opposed the new law on the ground it impacted people’s right to choose.

Bismarck Goes Smoke-FREE

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Born in a promise between two sisters—Nancy Brinker to her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36—Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest net-work of breast cancer survivors and activists.

The North Dakota Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will host the first ever “Race for the Cure” in North Dakota. This race will be held on the University of Mary Campus in Bismarck N.D., on June 18, 2011.

The affiliate serves North Dakota communities by providing funding for research and local life saving programs which address education, screening and treatment for women who otherwise could not afford it.

The North Dakota affiliate invests in local grants to agencies that provide breast cancer education, screening and treatment.

Seventy-five percent of the net proceeds of the fundraising efforts of the affiliate stay in North Dakota. Twenty-five percent support the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Program. Susan G. Komen for the Cure has helped to fund virtually every major advance in breast cancer research over the past 25 years.

The mission of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cure.

Volunteers in Bismarck testified that public health was the issue and the medical community came out in full force in favor. A group from the University of Mary, including respiratory care students, presented 3,500 signatures in favor of the smoking ordinance. The ordinance would be Enforced November 1,

2010.

Six weeks after the city mandated bars go smoke-free, two petitions began circulation by a committee of bar workers and a business that sup-plies equipment to bars.

Other communities have experienced similar complications in the process to go smoke-free. A “decline to sign” campaign will be started in Bismarck to remind citizens that the reason the Bismarck City Commission passed the original ordinance was the concern for health of all workers. Submitted by: Deb Knuth

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure—Date Set

Submitted by: Barb Steiner

New Career– Volunteerism

Delorse Tschider, a 23-year breast cancer survivor and Coalition member, has taken it upon herself to pursue a new career—volunteerism.

Delorse was recently honored with the Terese Lasser Award for her dedication to the American Cancer (ACS) Society Reach to Recovery program and her faithful

Sneak—A—Peak Upcoming Cancer Events

October 20 Breast Cancer Awareness Event—Four Bears Casino October 20 Altru Cancer Center hosts Pretty in Pink—Red River High School October 21 Bras on Broadway event, Fargo October 27 United We Walk for Better Health—Tribal Health building to Long Soldier Gym October 28 Lillians Diva Night—Lillians, Bismarck October 28 Cancer Community Event 2010– Surviving Breast Cancer—Ramada Plaza Suites, Fargo October 29 Sanford Oncology Symposium-Breast Cancer September 27-29th 4th Northern Plains American Indian Cancer Summit—Rapid City, SD

If you have not been able to browse through the newly revised NDCC website check it out today!!

years of service in the community.

Delorse not only volunteers for ACS but has also been an active volunteer for Custer Family Health, Women’s Way and RSVP. She also serves on the board for Komen for the Cure N.D. Chapter and is active in her church activities.

ACS has several volunteers to assist with the programs for cancer patients in N.D. like Reach to Recovery, Look Good… Feel Better, Road to Recovery and the Lodging Program. “Without them, our services would simply not be possible,” said Judy Carson, ACS.

NDCC Website

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Delorse Tschider, Coalition member

Submitted by: Judy Carson

Submitted by: Sharon Buhr 4

about prevention and screening for colon and rectal cancers.

What are your hobbies? In Michelle’s spare time, she enjoys being a mother of three, bowling, working with 4-H youth and being involved in her church. Someday she hopes to travel to Rome (maybe when she get’s old)!

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

Michelle is an registered nurse and employed by Prince of Peace Care Center in Ellendale. She is the Parish Nurse for the Dickey County Parish Nurse program that provides an alternative health care approach for ‘Care at Home’. The program is unique that it is managed

Member Spotlight— Michelle Thorpe

Growing Fruits and Veggies Promotes Eating Fruits & Veggies

by a long-term care facility and networks with collabo-rative partners in Dickey and LaMoure counties.

How long have you been a NDCC member?

Michelle is new to the North Dakota Cancer Coalition .

What interests do you have in cancer control? Michelle is a co-recipient of a NDCC Community grant with Lesile Hanson, Parish Nurse for LaMoure County for their proposal “The Parishioners Right to Know”. The grant will focus on educating their dual-county populations

Students at the upper elementary school in Valley City tried their hand at gardening this past year. In the spring the students obtained a 20 X 20 ft. plot at the community garden and with help of the Young People’s Healthy Heart Program (YPHHP) at Mercy Hospital, Valley City, N.D., and a local gardener they planted edamame (edible soybeans).

Throughout the summer a few students weeded the garden with the help of their principal, and when school started in the fall their produce was ready to be picked. The students harvest 91# of edamame, picking it all themselves.

Edamame originated in China over 5000 years ago. It is commonly grown and served throughout Asia, both in and out of the pod. The word edamame is Japanese. The YPHHP dietitians, Andrea Winter, LRD and Sharon Buhr, LRD used the traditional Japanese wok and bamboo steamer to prepare the food for the students, and because of the bountiful

Crop were able to serve it to all 1100 students in grades K-12.

The project enabled the students to learn more about the science and art of growing food. Research has shown that when students actually participate in gardening they are more likely to taste new veggies and overall eat more veggies which can reduce the risk of developing cancer!

Michelle Thorpe

Bra’s on Broadway Breast Cancer Benefit

This event will benefit people in North Dakota fighting breast cancer by providing assistance with gas cards and wigs. Funds will be raised through a bra-themed art auction and a donation program called Bucks and Bras!

Spirit of Eagles Conference

Coalition members, Elaine KeepsEagle and Jodie Fetsch presented at the Spirit of Eagles 8th National Changing Patterns of Cancer in Native Communities Conference in Seattle Washington on September 12,13 and 14th. They developed a poster presentation which showcased the Men’s Health program on the Standing Rock Reservation. The program has screened men over the age of 40 for prostate and colorectal cancer. The providers also complete a physical which includes blood pressure, blood sugar testing and cholesterol testing. There have been 774 completed men’s screenings since 2003.

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Submitted by: ACS

Hundreds of qualified hospitals, cancer centers and community organizations have applied to be part of three different programs—Creative Centers, Super Sibs and Cancer Transitions.

From North Dakota, Sanford Health has applied for this LIVESTRONG cancer transition funding. Sanford Health’s overarching survivor-ship transition goal is to regionally implement the model program with professionally trained staff and collaborators.

Vote to bring support to our North Dakota facility. Your vote will determine which organizations receive LIVESTRONG community impact funding.

http://vote.livestrong.org/regions/4/

LIVESTRONG grant VOTE!

Submitted by: Jodie Fetsch

The North Dakota Cancer Coalition is a group of professional stakeholders working together with the common vision of a cancer free future for North Dakota. This vision will be accomplished through data-driven planning for prevention, screening, early detection and effective quality care management.

The North Dakota Cancer Coalition represents many sectors of our North Dakota community including community-based organizations; health-care organizations; local, state and federal agencies; medical professional organizations; education; academia; research; voluntary organizations; survivors; health-care professionals; and others from across our unique state.

Cancer affects every one of us, our friends, family members and coworkers. It will take all of us working together to reduce the threat of cancer in our lives. The hardest work lies ahead — combining our state’s talent, skill and resources to implement the North Dakota Cancer Control Plan. Take action by volunteering to assist with a local activity, volunteering to serve on a committee working to achieve a priority, and supporting community or statewide activities focused on cancer control.

Working together, we can transform the vision of a cancer-free North Dakota into a reality!

Dr. John Leitch, M.D. NDCC Chair

Sanford Health Fargo, N.D.

Phone: 701.234.7599 John.leitch@meritcare.com

Dr. Douglas Berglund NDCC Past Chair Medcenter One Bismarck, N.D.

Phone: 701.323.5295 dberglund@mohs.org

Nancy Klatt NDCC Vice Chair

Altru Health System Grand Forks, N.D.

Phone: 701.780.1060 nklatt@altru.com

Anita Hoffarth NDCC Secretary

Reach Partners, Inc. Fargo, N.D.

Phone: 701.271.8170 anita@reachpartnersinc.com

Barb Groutt NDCC Treasurer

North Dakota Health Care Review Minot, N.D.

Phone: 701.852.4231 bgroutt@ndqio.sdps.org

Comments/Questions: Contact: Dubi Schwanz Phone: 701.328.3046

Fax: 701.328.2036 E-mail: dschwanz@nd.gov

Executive Summary

For more information on the NDCC go to: www.ndcancercoalition.org

Planning for a cancer-free future

Become involved with the NDCC !

Join Tod

ay :)

Vision: A cancer-free future for North Dakota Mission: Working together to reduce the incidence and impact of cancer for all North Dakotans Contact: Candy Getz 701.328.2306

You CAN make a difference!