Massachusetts Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition Plan 2006-2011:
Surveillance

Collecting information and measuring important data on cancer trends and patterns are vital activities of cancer prevention and control. In Massachusetts, two key systems collect cancer-related data. The Massachusetts Cancer Registry collects data on all new cases of cancer. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System is a telephone health survey of Massachusetts adults. It is conducted in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Other organizations collect information on cancer and youth and on the needs and issues of those most at risk of getting cancers. Many of these groups have formed networks to better identify and address needs for data to improve cancer care, and reduce death and suffering. Each goal in this statewide plan includes specific benchmarks or outcome measures. Most of these are based on existing data. The Coalition will monitor on a regular basis the progress in reaching the goals in this plan by examining each of the designated outcome measures.

Goal: The Massachusetts Cancer Control Coalition will use surveillance, evaluation, and research to make decisions about cancer control interventions.

Target Measures:

• By 2011, expand first course of treatment studies on breast and other cancers.
  
  Where we are:
  Completed study: “Breast Cancer 1st Course of Treatment, Difference between WHN enrollees and non WHN Enrollees 2004” MCR

• By 2011, disseminate progress on outcome measures listed in this plan.
  Where we are:0, based on review in 2005 of Massachusetts Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan 2001
  
  
• By 2011, devise a system that ensures communication and disseminationof evaluations on program activity routinely.
  Where we are:70% of Comprehensive Cancer Control activities have been evaluated
  
  
• By 2011, increase the communication via the Coalition Newsletter of research
  that can be put into practice throughout the cancer continuum.
  Where we are: To be determined
  Our target: Review of Newsletters 2004 -2005.

Strategies:

• Report to the Coalition membership and other interested parties on progress made on each of the outcome measurements listed in this plan.
• Seek opportunities to educate health systems, policy makers on health disparities and the importance of collecting socioeconomic demographic data.
• Collaborate with person or groups conducting research to communicate thesefindings to practitioners
• Use incidence, mortality and stage at diagnosis data to monitor and report trends
• Use BRFSS, MCR, YRBS, YHS, and other data sets to make decisions about intervention specific to cancer prevention and control.
• Encourage communication, integration, and collaboration that will facilitate putting research into practice.