Cancer Prevention & Control Programs - The TN Department of Health (TDH) takes a 3-pronged approach to the cancer problem in TN: encouraging and providing support for cancer screening activities, planning and implementing community-level general cancer prevention and control activities, and, lastly, performing general cancer surveillance activities to determine the burden of cancer experienced by Tennessee residents. The first approach taken by the TDH involves the TN Breast & Cervical Screening Program (TBCSP). The TBCSP provides free breast cancer screening, diagnostic testing, referral for treatment, and patient navigation to uninsured and underinsured individuals aged 18 and up who fall below 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The program provides screening and diagnostic services to women through enrollment at local health departments, community-based clinics and federally qualified health centers across the state. TBCSP's mission is to prevent morbidity and mortality from breast and cervical cancer through early detection. The program functions within the TDH and is administered in 13 unique regions across TN. TDH has served as the primary source of quality care for many Tennesseans for more than 80 years. The second approach is through the activities of the TN Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (TCCCP). TCCCP has been awarded funding through CDC since 2003 to implement evidence-based interventions which address cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship for Tennesseans. TCCCP facilitates the Tennessee Cancer Coalition (TC2) which is the statewide, multidisciplinary coalition providing education, networking, best practice sharing, and partnership opportunities to individuals and organizations working in oncology care and support. The coalition is committed to providing a neutral space for dialogue from diverse perspectives to measurably reduce the burden and impact of cancer for Tennesseans. TCCCP and TC2 maintain the State of TN Cancer Plan (STCP) which serves as a data-driven, evidence-based blueprint for coordinated action. This working document is the framework that presents priority objectives, goals, and strategies to reduce cancer risk, eliminate preventable cancers, and minimize cancer deaths and disabilities. It provides guidance for designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating cancer-related activities. Additionally, TCCCP requests project proposals which directly support the STCP – funding collaborative activities that address prevention, early detection, and survivorship. The third approach taken by the TDH to address the cancer problem is completed through the surveillance activities of the TN Cancer Registry (TCR). The TCR is tasked with collecting data on all patients diagnosed with cancer in any TN facility or provider office. This includes those individuals who are not residents of TN, but are diagnosed with and/or treated for cancer in TN. Data collected includes patient-identifying information, tumor-related information, vital status, and treatment-related information. Data collected and processed by the cancer registry is used to support comprehensive cancer control, research activities and other activities with the goal of reducing the burden of cancer experienced by TN residents.
