Initiatives

The following initiatives illustrate CDC’s comprehensive approaches to preventing and controlling cancer.

The Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN) is a national network of academic, public health, and community partners who work together to reduce the burden of cancer, especially among those disproportionately affected. Its members conduct community-based participatory cancer research across its eight network centers, crossing academic affiliations and geographic boundaries. The CPCRN is a thematic research network of the Prevention Research Centers, which are CDC’s flagship program for preventing and controlling chronic diseases.

Through colorectal cancer prevention and control initiatives, CDC and its partners promote colorectal cancer screening nationwide. CDC supports educational and research initiatives including the Screen for Life: National Colorectal Cancer Action Campaign and scientific studies designed to determine the barriers to colorectal cancer screening. Also, CDC provides funding to state programs to implement specific colorectal cancer strategies identified in their statewide cancer control plans through CDC’s National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program).

Through lung cancer initiatives, CDC is working to prevent and control lung cancer by—

• Collecting critical data about diagnoses and deaths from lung cancers in the United States.
• Supporting programs in states, tribes/tribal organizations, and U.S. territories that strive to prevent and control tobacco use and promote a healthy diet.
• Implementing public health interventions and countermarketing strategies to reduce smoking.
• Maintaining a lung cancer Web site.

Through gynecologic cancer initiatives, CDC developed a national gynecologic cancer campaign to raise awareness and increase knowledge for consumers, health care providers, and program planners about health issues and concerns related to the five main types of gynecologic cancer: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. In addition, CDC developed educational materials that convey the messages that many cancers may be curable if detected early and treated appropriately. In collaboration with its partners, CDC is educating women and health care professionals about the signs and symptoms of specific gynecologic cancers, screening tests, risk factors, and prevention strategies.

Through prostate cancer initiatives, DCPC conducts research about prostate cancer and enhances prostate cancer data in cancer registries.

Through skin cancer primary prevention and education initiatives, CDC conducts monitoring, research, education, and interventions for skin cancer. Based on the recommendations of the Guidelines for School Programs to Prevent Skin Cancer, CDC worked with education agencies and comprehensive cancer control partners to pilot test strategies to reduce skin cancer risks among students in schools in Colorado, Michigan, and North Carolina. CDC also works with partners on national surveys, such as the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System and National Health Interview Survey, to assess the prevalence of sunburn and sun-protective behaviors. The Sun Safety for America’s Youth Toolkit helps local comprehensive cancer control programs engage schools and other education partners in sun safety efforts.

Through cancer survivorship initiatives, DCPC is working with national, state, tribal group, territory, and local partners to create and implement successful strategies to help the millions of people in the United States who live with, through, and beyond cancer. As the population of cancer survivors grows, the public health community is considering ways to address the issues related to survivorship. CDC and the LIVESTRONG Foundation worked together to develop a publication entitled A National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship: Advancing Public Health Strategies, which informs policy makers, survivors, health care providers, and the general public about cancer survivorship.