Cancer in Missouri

Cancer in Missouri

Let the resources from the Missouri Cancer Consortium help ease your journey's worries. 

Every five years a report released by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the Missouri Cancer Consortium (MCC), the document is called “The Burden of Cancer in Missouri A comprehensive Analysis and Plan 2010-2015” and it is granted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  The report provides a comprehensive analysis about cancer in Missouri including incidence, prevalence and mortality rates, along with current and future action plans to “decrease suffering, death, and health-care costs caused by cancer” in Missouri (DHSS, MCC, 2010). 

Fifty states and U.S territories have been utilizing a term called comprehensive cancer control to help address the cancer continuum (“cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and end of life”) (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  Comprehensive cancer control is based off of scientific data and research, primary prevention, early detection, treatment, survivorship, end of life issues, various stakeholders in the medical and public health field, and coordinated cancer programs (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  Since the comprehensive cancer control is based off of the cancer continuum it is important to briefly go over each aspect of the continuum.

Prevention is participating in daily activities and making choices that will help prevent cancer by limiting exposure to chemicals that are linked to cancer (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  As much as 50 to 75 percent of cancers are caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  For example, thirty percent of all U.S deaths from cancer are caused by smoking (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  Early detection/screening, if discovered and treated before cancer spreads to beyond the initial organ it began survival rates of common cancers are 90 to 100 percent (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  Ways to detect cancers early include mammography (breast cancer), pap smear (cervical cancer), colonoscopy (colorectal cancer), or digital rectal examinations (prostate cancer) (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  Treatment, cancer treatment seeks to save lives and extend live for survivors of cancer (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  New cancer treatments and clinical trials are always underway trying to discover new ways to lower the death rate from this group of diseases (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  Survivorship/quality of life, according to the National Cancer Institute is “an individual (who) is considered a cancer survivor from the time of diagnosis, through the balance of his/her life.” (DHSS, MCC, 2010). One of the main aspects of working with survivors is understanding their concerns throughout diagnosis, treatment, and recovery (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  End of life, can also be described as palliative care and it starts when the individual is diagnosed with cancer and is focused on improving the quality of life for patient and their families throughout the whole course of the illness (DHSS, MCC, 2010).

Before the cancer prevalence in Missouri is discussed lets first better explain what cancer is.  Cancer is “a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells” (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  A tumor is a lump or mass that can invade and destroy healthy tissues, cells from the tumor can travel to other parts of the body and continue to grow this spreading of cancer is called metastasis and may result in death if not treated (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  Cancer can be caused by a plethora of sources, smoking, drinking alcohol, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, a family history, fair skin, an abnormal gene, and sometimes the cause of cancer is simply unknown (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  Age also plays a role in cancer, “in 2007, about 78 percent of all cancers in Missouri were diagnosed at age 55 or older” (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  For more information about the most common risk factors for cancer the National Cancer Institute booklet Cancer and the Environment is a reliable resource (DHSS, MCC, 2010).

The five leading types of new invasive cancers in Missouri 2007 are Lung and bronchus, prostate, female breast, colon, rectum and rectosigmoid, and urinary bladder (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  In 2007 29,695 Missouri residents were diagnosed with invasive cancer, which means that every hour of the day three new cases of cancers were being diagnosed (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Missouri and America with twenty-two percent of all deaths in Missouri being from cancer in 2008 that is 12,497 residents of Missouri dying from cancer (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  The five leading causes of cancer deaths in Missouri have not changed since 1996 those being: lung, bronchus, and trachea; colon, rectum, and anus; female breast; pancreas; and prostate (DHSS, MCC, 2010).

As discussed earlier prevention to reduce the risk of getting cancer can accomplished by making healthy lifestyle choices including “keeping a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco, limiting the amount of alcohol you drink, and protecting your skin from the sun” (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  As stated in “Burden of Cancer in Missouri a Comprehensive analysis and plan 2010-2015” one goal “is to reduce the preventable cancer incidence in Missouri by promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing environmental hazards that cause cancer” (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  This goal has seven objectives with corresponding strategies for each that describe ways in which this goal can be achieved.  There are also proceeding goals and objectives that cover the rest of the cancer continuum focal points including early detection/screening, treatment, and survivorship (DHSS, MCC, 2010).

The fight against cancer is a large battle but a person from any walk of life can help reduce the burden of cancer in Missouri.  If you are a hospital you can “provide meeting space for cancer support groups”, or “collaborate to sponsor community screening and education programs” (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  If you are a local Public Health Department you can “work with physicians to promote screening programs and case reporting” or “access community needs and implement policy and environmental changes to reduce cancer risks” (DHSS, MCC, 2010).  There are also suggestions for community based organizations, professional organizations, employer, school, faith-based organization, or a physician.  Lastly, if you are a Missourian you can “avoid all tobacco, eat a nutritious diet and maintain weight, increase your daily physical activity, obtain proper screening, enroll in clinical trials if diagnosed, or volunteer with groups who support cancer control efforts” (DHSS, MCC, 2010). Taking any of these actions can help reach the goal of decreasing the burden that cancer has on Missouri residents.

References

All information retrieved from:

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and the Missouri Cancer Consortium (MCC). The Burden of Cancer in Missouri A comprehensive Analysis and Plan 2010-2015. For more information go to http://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/chronic/chronicdisease/cancerburdenreport.pdf

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