August '07 Health—Nevada Cancer Institute Column

The Annual Report Emphasizes the Importance of Prevention

NEVADA CANCER INSTITUTE (NVCI) offers programs that serve the Presidential Advisory Panel's approach to reducing cancer risks.

To decrease lifestyle-related cancers, the President's Cancer Panel is calling for more effective policy, community programs and healthier behavior choices, as described in its annual report to the President, released today [August 16, 2007] at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention's Cancer Conference.

NVCI offers several programs that promote a healthy lifestyle for Nevadans and which in turn could potentially reduce the risk of cancer. NVCI's Outreach & Education (O&E) Department provides direct and personalized services such as community education, patient navigation, smoking cessation classes and sun safety information free to the public. O&E offers technical assistance on cancer-related matters to worksites, unions, insurers, health care providers, faith-based and not-for-profit organizations with health missions. Additionally, O&E serves as knowledgeable and caring subject matter experts in the areas of screening guidelines, and cancer prevention and control. O&E has outreach offices in Elko, Fallon, Reno/Sparks and Las Vegas.

Smoking Cessation Classes—NVCI offers free smoking cessation classes that target the panel's mission of eliminating disease and death caused by tobacco use and environmental tobacco smoke exposure. The hour-long, six-week smoking cessation class, taught by Gary Pfifer, a certified addictions counselor, is free of charge and open to the public.

The need for a smoking cessation class is evident in the numbers—lung cancer is the most common cancer-related death in men and women nationwide, while Nevada ranks No. 2 in the nation for lung cancer deaths for women, according to the United States Cancer Statistics (2002). In Nevada, it is estimated by the American Cancer Society that 1,750 men and women will be newly diagnosed with and approximately 1,330 will die of lung and bronchus cancer in 2007.

Just Move It—NVCI is encouraging Nevada's American Indians to get healthy and active through the Just Move It campaign, having already enrolled more than 350 participants this year. Just Move It is a national program created by Indian Health Services and the CDC to promote physical activity among American Indians. The program provides tribal communities with the awareness, understanding and tools to live healthier, longer lives and ultimately build healthier, sustainable communities. The national enrollment goal is one million American Indians.

NVCI launched the Just Move It program in the summer of 2006 with the Las Vegas Paiute tribe. Following the success of that pilot program, and with the support of Nevada's tribal communities, NVCI kicked-off Just Move It in six more American Indian tribes throughout Nevada this summer. The seven Nevada tribes that have joined the Just Move It campaign include: the Las Vegas Paiute, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Battle Mountain Band, Elko Te Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone and the Wells Band.

Buddy Up!—This program was originally designed for NVCI employees and expanded to community partners, not just to lose weight, but to live healthier and make healthier choices. Participants are asked to join with a co-worker or dependant in order to reach their personal goals. This is a 10-week nutrition program where participants keep a diary of daily food, drink intake and activities, aiming for at least 30 minutes of activity a day, weigh-in once a week, and complete the weekly quiz. The program consists of a balanced meal plan, and an easy, accessible location to get weighed and keep a record of progress.