University Times

Representatives from nearly 100 health organizations, government offices, cancer research centers and community organizations across the state have partnered to develop a five-year plan to reduce the burden of cancer throughout Pennsylvania. The plan, developed by the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Consortium (PAC3) and headed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, is the first-ever comprehensive plan for cancer control in the state.

“With this comprehensive action plan in place and so many cancer experts across the state working together, we can make a real difference in the lives of Pennsylvanians,” said Ronald B. Herberman, PAC3 co-chair and director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI). “By effectively harnessing the extensive expertise of Pennsylvania’s nationally renowned cancer centers through close collaborations, we can, not only improve the health of Pennsylvanians, but also contribute to the state’s economic vitality by increasing success in partnering with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.”

The PAC3 plan outlines specific strategies in eight areas: prevention and healthy lifestyles; cancer screening and diagnostic follow-up; cancer treatment and care delivery; quality of life; access; research, and cancer-related information management and dissemination. The plan will build on the achievements of existing cancer programs; increase the number of partnerships to implement the plan’s priorities; continuously assess the burden of cancer; identify and reduce race disparities, and use epidemiological data to achieve an evidence-based approach to program planning and to validate plan evaluation.

“The next steps are critical,” said Gary Leipheimer, PAC3 co-chair and vice president for cancer control in the Pennsylvania Division of the American Cancer Society. “We must combine our state’s talent, skills and resources in collaboration with our national partners to implement this plan. We know that with all of the stakeholders working together, we can transform this vision into reality.”

To help implementing the plan, a PAC3 coordinating office has been established at UPCI and will be headed by Diane Fletcher, UPCI staff member.

PAC3 was created in 2001 to reduce the burden of cancer across the state by establishing an open dialogue among key stakeholders from the health care community, cancer researchers, academia, community organizations, advocacy groups, insurers, industry, state government and cancer survivors.

The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 72,000 Pennsylvanians were diagnosed with cancer in 2003. It is estimated that nearly 30,000 people in Pennsylvania died as a result of cancer within the past year.