The Medical Center Cancer Committee selected lung cancer as the primary 2017 community outreach prevention program. A community health needs assessment was conducted in 2015 by The Medical Center and the Barren River Initiative to Get Healthy Together Council (BRIGHT). The report identified that lung disease, including lung cancer, remains a priority health issue. Lung cancer remains one of the top three cancers in Kentucky.
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rankings, Kentucky remains the highest in the US for adult smokers at 25.9%. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States as well as the leading risk factor for lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 80% of lung cancer deaths are thought to result from smoking.
2017 Accomplishments
Two-thirds to three-quarters of smokers do not use any evidenced-based counseling or medications to try to quit. According to the Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs, smokers who use evidence-based cessation counseling or medications improve their odds of successfully quitting. Targeting young people to prevent them from starting smoking is important as CDC statistics show that 9 out of 10 smokers start before the age of 18.
The Medical Center offers employees and the public the Freedom from Smoking (FFS) smoking cessation program. Smoking cessation offers the best route to reduce risk of early death from lung cancer. Efforts were coordinated with the local health department to offer FFS classes on different days and at different times to provide more options.
Smoking cessation information was distributed consistently at worksite health fairs with the opportunity to reach over 700 people. The negative effects and dangers of smoking were also presented at elementary school events reaching about 700 children.
Secondhand smoke poses dangers to non-smokers including cancer and other lung diseases. Secondhand smoke education was added to the Newborn Care and Safety classes held at The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center. Participants were provided with before and after surveys to gauge awareness and education benefits. Eighty-five participants were reached through this education opportunity. Participants were also encouraged to provide their contact information if they were seeking smoking cessation guidance.
Other Cancer Prevention Accomplishments in 2017
Through community activities, The Medical Center Health & Wellness Center is able to reach numerous people through cancer-related activities. Two articles related to breast cancer prevention or screenings were published in WellNews, a newsletter that circulates to over 50,000 homes in the area. Thirty women attended The Medical Center’s June 2017 Women in Charge luncheon where an oncologist discussed the risk factors, prevention and early detection of common cancers in women. Other activities include nutrition events and counseling, exercise opportunities offered to employees and the public, speaking engagements, participation in and execution of community health fairs, and wellness boards displayed in more than 40 industries.