REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CANCER
CM-C Report 1-A-06
Subject: Activities in Cancer Screening and Education
Presented by: Cynthia A. Jumper, MD, Chair
Coordination of Cancer-Related Activities
The committee continues to monitor statewide activities and guide association efforts on cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and related issues. Educational efforts are coordinated through TMA's Physician Oncology Education Program (POEP) and include statewide and regional symposia and programs on cancer issues of interest to primary care physicians. The committee reviews the progress of other cancer-related organizations in the state, such as the Texas Cancer Council (TCC), The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Department of State Health Services, the American Cancer Society, the Texas Cancer Registry, and the Texas Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition. The committee also reviews the applications of recently passed cancer legislation. The committee supports the Texas Cancer Pain Initiative in developing a Texas Pain Summit to take place on Aug. 25, 2006. This summit will foster dialogue between healthcare professionals and the state's regulatory and licensing bodies to promote a balanced regulatory system in which the prevention of prescription drug diversion and abuse does not interfere with good pain treatment.
Physician Oncology Education Program
TMA received approximately $289,000 in funding for fiscal year 2006 for the POEP through the Texas Cancer Council, a state agency devoted to promoting and supporting cancer control efforts for Texas. As part of the fiscal year 2006 contract with TCC, POEP is coordinating efforts to offer more rural programs through the POEP Speakers' Bureau in an attempt to go where physicians need cancer resources and assistance. The program collaborates with various cancer entities, such as the Intercultural Cancer Council, to distribute materials specific to the diverse population in Texas.
Committee members discussed the eighth annual "Cancer-What Primary Care Physicians Need to Know" symposium to be held at TexMed 2006. This program will cover cancer survivor screening, the science and politics of cigarette smoke, health disparities and tobacco, improving minority and underserved patient participation in clinical trials, head and neck cancer, palliative care and, cancer and obesity. In addition, POEP is offering a childhood cancer conference in an effort to promote the Independent Television Service's outreach documentary, A Lion in the House. This documentary seeks to heighten the awareness of childhood cancer warning signs and the importance of survivorship followup care. For more information go to http://www.itvs.org/outreach/lioninthehouse/index.htm .
Outreach Efforts
The Committee on Cancer discussed efforts to reach primary care physicians and how to make every physician's office a cancer detection and prevention center. Upcoming opportunities include involvement in or exhibits at the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association, the Texas Academy of Family Physicians Summit, Texas Pediatrics Society, and the Texas Association of Cancer Pain Initiatives. Other collaborations have been formed with the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) and the American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives.
Cancer Tools
The committee announced that the new C-Tools v2.0 has been released. This has been a combined effort of the Committee on Cancer, the American Cancer Society, and the Physician Oncology Education Program, as well as other professional health care providers. The download is FREE and is available through the POEP Web page at www.poep.org or through the ACS at http://www.cancer.org/docroot/COM/content/div_TX/COM_5_1x_The_C-Tools_20.asp?sitearea= COM</A>.
TMA House of Delegates: TexMed 2006