Together, our potential is boundless.

The New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Collaboration (NH CCC) stems from a national prevention and control effort to systematically and comprehensively reduce the burden of cancer in each state resulting in risk reduction, early detection, better treatment and enhanced survivorship. The Collaboration is a group of over 200 individuals and community partners that pool resources and efforts through five work groups to address issues across the cancer continuum including: Primary Prevention, Prevention and Early Detection, Treatment and Survivorship, Palliation and Emerging Issues. These five workgroups are responsible for implementing the goals and objectives found in the 2010-2014 New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan. NH CCC members include a broad spectrum of individuals working with, or affected by cancer such as: physicians, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation specialists, advocates, policy makers, public health professionals, health insurers, survivors, and family members.

Cancer is a major health threat in New Hampshire, touching lives in every corner of the state and in every socio-economic group. In 2008, cancer was the Granite State’s leading cause of death resulting in an overall statewide cost of $1.1 billion. Every day 19 people are diagnosed with cancer in NH and seven die of this disease.

Nationally, comprehensive cancer control pilot program efforts resulted in many successful outcomes that convinced national cancer stakeholders of the value of collaborating to conquer cancer. Each state receives federal funding to build and maintain capacity for a comprehensive cancer control program that includes a collaboration of statewide individual and community cancer-interest groups.

Development of the NH CCC began in 2003, when the state first established a steering committee to address the issues related to cancer in New Hampshire. The efforts of the steering committee established the groundwork for what later became known as the NH Comprehensive Cancer Collaboration. A Board of Directors was elected who hired a manager to coordinate the operations of the NH CCC.

The 2010-2014 NH Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan will serve as the blueprint for implementation activities of five work groups over the next five years. These work groups are charged with implementing the thirty-three objectives that will reduce the burden and suffering from cancer in New Hampshire as outlined in the Cancer Plan. The workgroups address: Primary Prevention, Prevention and Early Detection, Treatment and Survivorship, Palliation, and Emerging Issues in Cancer. Each workgroup has co-chairs who are responsible for coordinating the activities of the work group in accomplishing the objectives identified in the cancer plan.

• Convened a diverse group from all reaches of New Hampshire’s cancer community to coordinate efforts in reducing the burden of cancer in New Hampshire.
• Collaboratively developed the 2010-2014 NH Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan which presents the Collaboration’s five-year plan for action.
• Developed a web site, www.NHCancerPlan.org, to function as a clearinghouse of information and resources for the Collaboration’s work groups and the community of cancer prevention and control stakeholders.
• Secured a placeholder in the State budget for the NH Comprehensive Cancer Plan Fund. Originally, $6 million was allocated for this fund, but due to a significant State budget shortfall, the funding was stripped and was re-funded with $1.
• Assisted in establishing an Indoor Smoking Law prohibiting smoking in “restaurants, cocktail lounges, and certain enclosed public places in NH.”
• Funded 2 colon cancer screening projects to collect, analyze and link colonoscopy registry data, identify barriers to screening and work with primary care offices to improve screening practices.
• Developed issue briefs on emerging issues in cancer:
  • “D” for Cancer? Sunshine Vitamin May Play a Role in Prevention and Treatment
  • Sound Science: Important Questions to Ask When Interpreting and Evaluating Research Studies
  • Cumulative Radiation Exposure in Medical Imaging
• Conducted a survey and focus groups to identify the availability of and barriers to enrollment in clinical trials.
• Developed local partnerships with the Health Eating Active Living New Hampshire Initiative, New Hampshire Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and the New Hampshire Prostate Cancer Coalition to unite resources in addressing common objectives.
• Supported Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and NH Division of Public Health Services in the successful application for federal funding to improve colorectal cancer screening rates and best practices.
• Worked with partners to include new questions about colon and prostate cancer in the NH Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
• Supported a successful grant proposal to fund a project that identified unmet needs of cancer survivors.
• Partnered to develop and provide educational materials about end-of-life care, advanced-care directives and do-not-resuscitate decisions.
• Worked with partners to conduct a statewide survey of hospital-based palliative-care services.

• Enhance partnership collaborations to implement the objectives and strategies described in the 2010-2014 New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan.
• Broaden membership diversity to assure inclusion of organizations and individuals who represent or work with communities experiencing cancer-related disparities.
• Continue to identify and obtain resources to fund programs and to build infrastructure to achieve the objectives of the 2010-2014 Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan.
• Create a Medical Advisory Committee.
• Determine the impact of health care reform on the cancer burden in New Hampshire.