Prevent Cancer Dialogue

The Prevent Cancer Dialogue convenes meetings, whether virtual or in-person, on cancer screening and prevention to:

• Keep the field of cancer screening and prevention stakeholders up to date on research, policy, practice and programs.
• Disseminate timely and cutting-edge evidence-based information.
• Provide energizing opportunities for networking.

Participants take the Dialogue back to their communities and workplaces with concrete ways to enhance or expand what they already do to promote prevention practices and appropriate screening.

The Prevent Cancer Dialogue has been implemented on these levels:

Annual National Conference

The Prevent Cancer Dialogue convenes a diverse group of stakeholders and provides a welcoming environment for the exchange of ideas, information and experiences, networking, brainstorming and thoughtful discussion of strategies for cancer prevention and early detection in all communities. Experts in the field give timely and enlightening presentations on trending topics and the Q&A sessions and peer-to-peer conversations provide productive dialogue among participants. Now in its 22nd year, the Dialogue started as laser-focused on colorectal cancer screening, and, over the years, it expanded to include cancer prevention and then to include also cervical, breast and lung cancer screenings. The Dialogue also covers issues related to early detection content related to other cancers, such as prostate, oral, ovarian and skin. The Dialogue currently reaches participants from 49 states, 3 territories and several other countries. 

Dialogue for Action Colorectal Screening Projects in Indian Country

Since 2007, the Prevent Cancer Foundation has had the honor of working with American Indian/Alaska (AI/AN) groups to increase cancer screening, and most especially colorectal cancer screening. The Foundation first convened a Dialogue of 10 AI/AN teams in Portland, Oregon, to kick off year-long projects that they designed and planned to increase colorectal cancer screening in their respective communities. Each team received a grant of $10,000 from the Foundation. Team members included tribal council members and leaders, health directors, community workers, health care providers, tribal elders, CRC survivors and family members or representatives of state health departments. These projects were:

• Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board (now Great Plains)
• Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)
• Black Hills Center for American Indian Health
• Cherokee Nation
• Ho-Chunk Nation
• Kaw Nation
• Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
• Michigan Intertribal Council
• Texas Gulf Coast American Indian Alaska Native Project
• Urban Indian Health Institute

The Foundation continues to work with colleagues on cancer prevention and early detection in Indian Country. Every year, the annual national Dialogue offers content relevant to Indian Country and convenes a peer-to-peer information-sharing meeting to keep everybody up-to-date on what’s happening in cancer screening and prevention in Indian Country.             

State-Level Prevent Cancer Foundation Dialogue

From 2003 – 2008, The Prevent Cancer Dialogue was also active on the state level, thanks to funding from a five-year CDC cooperative agreement and also individual funding from some states. These year-long projects strengthened state-wide collaborations and partnerships, working within their state-level comprehensive cancer control plans to increase capacity for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in communities across their states — whether large or small, and rural or urban. Outcomes of the projects included statewide media campaigns, the establishment of a state-specific foundation to support CRC screening in underserved communities, dissemination of tools for office-reminder systems, support for CRC legislation and culturally appropriate educational materials

The states which convened Dialogues were:

• Arizona/New Mexico
• California
• Colorado
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• South Carolina
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia

Regardless of size or shape, every Dialogue features a mix of state-of-the-art presentations and interactive, dynamic “conversations” among participants. The Dialogue equips participants with concrete tools and effective strategies for use in both clinical and public health settings. At any Dialogue, there likely is a mix of these participants:

• Primary Care Physicians (Internists, Family Physicians, Osteopaths)
• Medical Specialists (Obstetrician/Gynecologists, Gastroenterologists, Dermatologists, Surgeons, Radiologists)
• Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants
• Quality Team Members in Hospitals, Insurance Companies, etc.
• Advocates and Survivors
• Patient Navigators, Care Managers, Case Managers
• Social Workers
• Health Services Researchers
• Health Educators
• Health Agency Staff on Federal, State and County levels
• Staff of Non-Profit Health Organizations
• Third-Party Payers

The Prevent Cancer Dialogue works to provide continuing education credits to certified health education specialists and to nurses and nurse practitioners. Stay tuned for information on CE credits being offered for the 2021 Dialogue.  

The Latin name for the Bay Laurel plant, laurus noblis, is derived from the word “to praise” or to be renowned or famous. The laurel has long been a symbol of tribute, honor, victory, merit and reward. In Ancient Rome, heroes among the athletes, generals, emperors and poets received a wreath of laurels as homage to their service and accomplishments.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation® created the Cancer Prevention Laurels in 2003 to recognize and celebrate innovators and leaders in the fight against cancer. The awards are annually co-sponsored by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable. View our past Cancer Prevention Laurels recipients below. 

Awards are made in the following three categories to recognize work in any field of cancer prevention and early detection:

• Cancer Prevention Laurel for National Leadership: Awarded to an individual who has shown exemplary leadership in cancer prevention or early detection at the national level in the U.S. An awardee will be an outstanding individual whose leadership and vision have inspired others to join him or her in working toward a shared goal which has made a difference in cancer screening or prevention.
• Cancer Prevention Laurel for Dedication to Community Service: Awarded to an individual who has demonstrated unwavering commitment to enhancing cancer prevention or early detection on the community level in the U.S. An awardee will be a remarkable individual who has identified and addressed gaps in meeting community needs in cancer prevention and screening. This commitment can be demonstrated through development and implementation of educational, clinical or research programs.
• Cancer Prevention Laurel for Increasing Health Equity through Innovation: Awarded to an individual or organization for innovative methods to increase health equity in cancer prevention and screening in communities across the U.S. An awardee will be an individual or organization that has identified and implemented innovations which increase health equity by improving or expanding services at the community level.

Poster Presentations

2020 Prevent Cancer Dialogue: Prevention, Screening, Action

Poster Session Theme: Innovations in Building Sustainability for Community-Level Cancer Screening and Prevention

View posters presented at the 2020 Virtual Prevent Cancer Dialogue

Dialogue 2019 Top-Ranked Poster

The Dialogue 2019 poster session theme was “Building Community Health and Prosperity through Cancer Screening or Prevention” The Dialogue poster session showcased 15 projects and programs from across the country. This year’s top-ranked poster was Case Study of a Comprehensive Team-Based Approach to Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening, presented by Lauren Wright, MPH from West Virginia University Cancer Institute, Cancer Prevention and Control.

View all Dialogue 2019 poster submissions

Dialogue 2018 Top-Ranked Poster

The Dialogue 2019 poster session theme was “Community-based Programs or Practices in Cancer Screening or Prevention.” The Dialogue poster session highlight 19 projects and programs from across the country. This year’s top ranked poster was Human Papillomavirus Prevention in North Dakota’s Youth: Early Results of an HPV Educational Project Targeted at Health Care Professional Communication, presented by Danielle Pinnick, MPH and Paul J. Carson, MD, FACP with North Dakota State University Center for Immunization Research and Education.

View the full list of posters displayed at the 2018 Dialogue.

The Dialogue Archives contains materials to start and continue conversations with Dialogue colleagues and in your community about cancer screening and prevention.

To learn about evidence-based interventions and collaborations in communities working on cancer screening and prevention, view the presentations, posters and other materials that were presented throughout the 2019 Dialogue.

Want to discuss new cancer screening modalities or advocacy campaigns? Download the Networking Resource Guide to network with past Dialogue professionals on a variety of cancer screening issues.

Archives

Click below to view materials and information from previous Dialogue events:

2019 Dialogue for Action^® on Cancer Screening and Prevention

2018 Dialogue for Action^® on Cancer Screening and Prevention

2017 Dialogue for Action^® on Cancer Screening and Prevention

2016 Dialogue for Action^®: Progress and Prospects in Cancer Screening and Prevention

2015 Dialogue for Action^®: Expanding Access Through Innovation

2014 Dialogue for Action^®: Right-Sizing Cancer Screening

2013 Dialogue for Action^®: Hitting the Targets

2012 Dialogue for Action^®: Today’s Progress, Tomorrow’s Challenge

2011 Dialogue for Action^®: Prevention Now for a Healthier Tomorrow

2010 Dialogue for Action^®: Prevention Hits the Headlines

2009 Dialogue for Action^®: Harnessing the Power of Success

Support the Prevent Cancer Dialogue

The Prevent Cancer Foundation^® values its partnerships with its supporters – and appreciates the impact we make together on increasing cancer screening. As a supporter of the Prevent Cancer Dialogue, you have a terrific opportunity to help advance work in cancer screening.

If your organization would like to support the 2020 Prevent Cancer Dialogue, or for more information on how you can become a corporate partner of the Prevent Cancer Foundation^®, please contact Janet Hudson at Janet.Hudson@preventcancer.org or (703) 519-2117.

If you personally would like to support the Foundation, please go to donate.

Special thanks to the 2020 Dialogue supporters!