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CDC's Cancer-Related Programs

Download the 2008/2009 Division of Cancer Prevention and Control fact sheet. (PDF-786KB)

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

Since 1991, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) has provided more than 7.8 million screening and diagnostic exams for breast and cervical cancer to more than 3.2 million low-income women who had little or no health insurance. The NBCCEDP supports early detection programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 12 American Indian/Alaska Native organizations, and 5 U.S. territories. To increase screening rates, the program also supports education and outreach activities, case management services, and research.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP) funds states, tribes/tribal organizations, and territories to establish coalitions, assess the burden of cancer, determine priorities, and develop and implement Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC) programs. CCC is an integrated and coordinated approach to reducing cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality through prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliation. During fiscal year 2007, CDC supported CCC programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 7 tribal groups, and 7 U.S. Associated Pacific Islands/territories.

The National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) collects data on cancer occurrence; the type, extent, and location of cancers; and the type of initial treatment. In 2008, the NPCR appropriated $46 million to support central cancer registries in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Pacific Island jurisdictions. In addition, CDC and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, in collaboration with the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR), publish annual cancer incidence and death data in the United States Cancer Statistics: Incidence and Mortality reports.

The Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN) was established under the CDC-funded Prevention Research Center program to support academic and community partnerships for cancer prevention and control intervention and dissemination research. Its mission is to accelerate the adoption of evidence-based cancer prevention and control in communities through advancing the science of cancer prevention and control and influencing public health and primary care practice. In particular, it is engaged in enhancing large-scale efforts to reach underserved populations and reduce their burden of cancer.

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, a screening demonstration program, and scientific studies designed to determine the barriers to colorectal cancer screening. The Screen for Life campaign educates Americans about the importance of regular screening beginning at age 50. Also, CDC provides funding to 17 state programs to implement specific colorectal cancer strategies identified in their statewide cancer control plans through the NCCCP.

Through hematologic cancer initiatives, CDC supports efforts to improve the awareness, diagnosis, understanding, and treatment of hematologic cancers (cancers of the blood and bone marrow). These efforts offer health care providers the latest information about how best to recognize the signs and symptoms of hematologic cancers and how to treat these diseases. In 2008, CDC funded nine grantees to help increase awareness about hematologic cancers and connect the public, people living with hematologic cancers, and their friends and families with resources for understanding the disease, asking the right questions about diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, receiving optimal treatment, and finding community support networks.

Through lung cancer initiatives, CDC is working to prevent and control lung cancer by 1) collecting critical data about diagnoses and deaths from lung cancers in the United States; 2) supporting programs in states, tribes/tribal organizations, and U.S. territories that strive to prevent and control tobacco use and promote a healthy diet; 3) implementing public health interventions and countermarketing strategies to reduce smoking; and 4) maintaining a lung cancer Web site.

Through ovarian cancer initiatives, CDC works with academic and medical institutions, state health departments, and advocacy groups to conduct research to improve early detection and treatment of ovarian cancer. Cancer registries in Maryland, California, and New York collaborate with the NPCR to evaluate care and outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer. Additionally, CDC's NCCCP funds ovarian cancer projects in California, Florida, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.

Through gynecologic cancer initiatives, CDC is developing a national gynecological 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 cancers: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. In addition, CDC is developing 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, CDC provides the public, physicians, and policy makers with the information they need to make informed decisions about the potential risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening and to improve quality of life after diagnosis. CDC materials include three versions of Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide—one for all men, another for African American men, and the third in Spanish for Hispanic men. CDC also developed a slide presentation for primary care physicians about the potential benefits and risks of screening, entitled Screening for Prostate Cancer: Sharing the Decision.

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 CCC 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.

Through cancer survivorship initiatives, CDC 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 Lance Armstrong 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.

Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.