MISSION STATEMENT

Reduce the human and economic burden of cancer in Virginia through risk reduction and early detection.

Welcome to the Virginia Department of Health
(VDH) Comprehensive Cancer Prevention and Control Project (CPCP) web site. This project is funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of the National Comprehensive Cancer Prevention and Control Program.

The mission of the CPCP is to reduce the
incidence, morbidity, and mortality of cancer
through prevention, early detection, treatment,
rehabilitation, and palliation by working with
partners across the state.

History
In January 1998, the VDH identified the need to
address cancer as a public health issue and
established the Cancer Control Project. In
November 1998, with the creation of the Cancer
Plan Advisory committee, (2003, name changed to Cancer Plan Action Coalition, CPAC)
VDH spearheaded the development of a
state cancer plan for the prevention and control
of cancer. In 2000, the Virginia Cancer Plan
(VCP) for 2001-2005, a guide outlining the state’s goals and strategies for all areas of comprehensive cancer control, was developed. In 2004, an addendum with baseline data and measurable objectives was developed. The VCP contains 18 goals with associated objectives, 70 recommendations and over 150 strategies.

Overview of cancer
Cancer is not a single disease, but actually represents more than 100 distinct diseases. Cancer is the leading cause of death for people under age 85 in Virginia. Between 1999 and 2003, over 147,000 cases of cancer were diagnosed in Virginia, and over 67,000 people in Virginia died from cancer.

In Virginia, an estimated 35,090 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed, and 13,740 deaths will occur in 2007. For more data on cancer in Virginia, visit the Virginia Cancer Registry and the Virginia Division of Health Statistics . In 2005, there were 25,935 hospitalizations due to cancer (as a primary diagnosis) in Virginia, at a cost of over $854 million.

FEATURES

Sun Safety CANCER INCIDENCE STAGES OF DIAGNOSIS CANCER SCREENING CANCER PLAN ACTION COALITION NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM VIRGINIA CANCER PLAN ADDENDUM 2001-2005