Skip to site content
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Health Promotion/Disease Prevention

Cancer Prevention Webinars

Archived Webinars on Cancer Prevention

Title: Colorectal Screening Quality Improvement Project: Mescalero Service Unit Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Speakers:

Yolanda Adams, RN
Chief Nurse Executive, Mescalero Service Unit, IHS

Maria Pasco, RN
Registered Nurse, Mescalero Service Unit, IHS

Description: : American Indian and Alaska Native populations are experiencing higher colorectal cancer rates compared to non-Hispanic whites. Increasing awareness of preventive screening and early detection are essential to improve health outcomes. The Mescalero Service Unit implemented a team building and buy in approach to increase colorectal cancer screenings. The speakers will describe how they identified the cohort of patients and mailing and hand out of iFit kits, community events, Government Performance Reporting A data, lessons learned and how they adapted their project in a culturally appropriate way to meet the needs of the community.  

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, the healthcare team will:

  1. Examine the importance of Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening as a cancer prevention and control tool
  2. Identify the process for providing mail-out colorectal cancer screening kits as an effective approach for improving CRC screening rates
  3. Incorporate culturally appropriate CRC screening education and strategies that address patient barriers

Title: Using Multiple Approaches to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Speakers:

Lucinda Charleston, MPH
Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Consultant, Bemidji Area Indian Health Service Office

CAPT Joanna Ferraro, PharmD, BCACP
Director of Pharmacy, Cass Lake Service Unit, IHS

Scott Robison, M Ed.
Community Health Director, Wewoka Indian Health Clinic, IHS

Description: : This 1 hour presentation will focus on how two programs implemented team-based and multiple approaches to increase colorectal cancer screenings. The speakers will share statistics, screening approaches, lessons learned, follow up, and how they adapted culturally appropriate materials that meet health literacy.  

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, the healthcare team will:

  1. Identify strategies to increase colorectal cancer screening.
  2. Implement team-based approaches that support colorectal cancer screenings.
  3. Locate cultural appropriate materials that can be adapted for sites to promote screening efforts.

Title: Best Practices in Mammography: Red Lake Service Unit Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Speakers:

Katlyn Blowers, R.T. (R)(M)
Lead Mammography Tracking Technologist, Red Lake Hospital. IHS

Description: : Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed and second leading cause of cancer mortality among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women. Not all women are aware of the importance of regular mammogram screening, age to start screening, and knowing family history. This session will provide an overview of how the Red Lake Service Unit collaborated with key partners to implement promising practices, identify strategies to overcome challenges, enhance documentation in Electronic Health Record, and recognize the importance of building patient trust to encourage them to follow through with a mammogram.  

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, the healthcare team will:

  1. Apply strategies to overcome barriers and challenges to improve mammogram screening.
  2. Identify steps in documenting screening and activate clinical reminders in the Electronic Health Record.
  3. Implement best practices to increase breast cancer screening.

Title: What We Should Know About Breast Cancer Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Speakers:

Loretta Christensen, MD, MBA, MSJ, FACS
Chief Medical Officer, Indian Health Service

Melissa Buffalo, MS
Chief Executive Officer, American Indian Cancer Foundation

Rodney C. Haring, PhD, MSW
Chair, Department of Indigenous Cancer Health

Description: : Each year in the U.S., about 240,000 breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women and about 2,100 in men. Among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women, it is the most frequently diagnosed and leading cause of cancer mortality. AI/AN women are more likely to be diagnosed at younger ages and later stages. It is important to detect cancer at its earliest stage for treatment. This session will provide an overview of breast cancer incidence, regional differences, signs and symptoms, resources, and collaborative strategies to confront this cancer burden. The session will be followed by a panel discussion from IHS, the American Indian Cancer Foundation, and the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Department of Indigenous Cancer Health) on challenges, addressing potential barriers, and strategies to increase awareness of the importance of early detection and screening.  

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, the healthcare team will:

  1. Examine regional differences in breast cancer incidence in Indian Country.
  2. Identify risk factors and signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
  3. Explore resources and best/promising practices on breast cancer from IHS and two collaborative partners.

Title: Anal Cancer Prevention and Screening Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Speakers:

Andrew Yu, MS, BSN, RN, ACRN
Public Health Advisor, HQ, IHS

Description: : Anal cancer is increasing significantly among some groups of people including those living with HIV, men who have sex with other men, women with cervical cancer, and people who are immunocompromised. Increased access to HPV vaccinations and updated anal cancer screening and treatment guidelines may help prevent new cases of anal cancer and decrease severity of disease and mortality.  

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, viewers will:

  1. Examine methods of anal cancer prevention including the use of HPV vaccination.
  2. Apply current anal cancer screening algorithm.
  3. Incorporate current anal cancer precursor treatment guidelines.

Title: Town Hall Panel: Breast Cancer Facts, Personal Cancer Journey, and Resources Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Speakers:

Loretta Christensen, MD, MBA, MSJ, FACS
Chief Medical Officer, IHS

Melissa Buffalo, MS
Chief Executive Officer,American Indian Cancer Foundation

Description: American Indian and Alaska Native women are at risk for breast cancer. Please join us to learn how to reduce your risk, understand the importance of early detection, access available resources, recognize potential signs and symptoms, and hear a personal story of recovery.  

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this webinar, the participants will be able to:

  1. Identify risk factors and signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
  2. Recognize the importance of early detection.
  3. Locate resources and information on breast cancer.

Title: Reigniting Colorectal Cancer Screening Efforts during COVID Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Speakers:

Donald Haverkamp, MPH
Epidemiologist, CDC

Chelsea Kettering, DrPH, MPH
Epidemiologist, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Navajo Area Office, IHS

Farah Lazarre, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner, Indian Family Health Clinic of Great Falls

Description: This presentation will focus on how two programs reignited colorectal cancer screenings by using alternative safe approaches to reduce anxieties that may prevent people from accessing screening programs. The speakers will share statistics, screening approaches, lessons learned, follow up, and how they adapted culturally appropriate materials to increase screening during COVID. 

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, the healthcare team will:

  1. Identify strategies offering at-home stool-based tests to reignite screening efforts.
  2. Implement team-based approaches that support colorectal cancer screenings.
  3. Locate cultural appropriate materials that can be adapted for sites to promote screening efforts.

Title: Understanding the Relationship Between Obesity and Cancer Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
October 21, 2021

Description: This presentation will discuss the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. and in various population subgroups, including American Indian/Alaska Native populations. The relationship of obesity to cancer incidence and outcomes; biological mechanisms that are thought to be responsible for the obesity-cancer relationship; and efforts by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to better understand the obesity and cancer relationship and develop more effective interventions for obesity to prevent cancer and reduce its adverse outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Examine the relationship of obesity to cancer, including the types of cancer that are linked to obesity and apparent mechanisms linking obesity to cancer.
  2. Recognize obesity prevalence in the U.S. generally and in various population subgroups including American Indian/Alaska Natives.
  3. Summarize research and related activities being undertaken by the NCI in the area of obesity and cancer.

Speakers:

Susan Czajkowski, PhD
Chief Health Behaviors Research Branch, National Cancer Institute

Linda Nebeling, PhD, MPH, RD, FADA
Deputy Associate Director, DCCPS, NCI, NIH

Title: Cancer Prevention Interventions: Recommendation from the Community Preventive Service Task Force Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
October 19, 2021

Description: During this webinar, public health experts from CDC’s Community Guide Office and Division of Cancer Control and Prevention will present effectiveness and economic evidence from systematic reviews of intervention approaches to increase breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening and prevent skin cancer and discuss ways tribal communities might benefit. Presenters will discuss the role of the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) - a nonfederal panel of unpaid experts who issue recommendations and findings based on Community Guide systematic reviews. They will highlight CPSTF findings and effectiveness and economic evidence from recent reviews and share information about CDC-funded programs that have used the findings to increase cancer screenings and share resources and weblinks attendees can use to find more information.

Speakers:

T’Ronda Flagg, MPA, MCHES
Public Health Advisor/Program Consultant, Program Services Branch, DCPC, CDC

Krista Hopkins Cole, MPH
Health Communication Specialist, Community Guide Office, CDC (Cherokee Nation Operational Solutions Contractor)

Yinan Peng, PhD, MPH
Health Scientist, Community Guide Office, CDC

Sajal K. Chattopadhyay, PhD
Economist, Community Guide Office, CDC

Learning Objectives:

  1. Recognize the positive evidence for CPSTF-recommended interventions to prevent skin cancer or increase breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening.
  2. Identify a CPSTF-recommended intervention to prevent skin cancer or increase breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer screening.
  3. Explore CDC-funded programs that have used CPSTF-recommended interventions for cancer prevention and control.

Effective Strategies to Reach Patients for Colorectal Cancer Screening During COVID-19 Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

January 20, 2021

Presenters: Donald Haverkamp, MPH and Kevin English, DrPH

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this webinar, the participants will be able to:

  1. Apply safe and convenient colorectal screening for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) patients.
  2. Identify geographical differences in colorectal cancer incidence among AI/AN populations.
  3. Recommend appropriate testing for patients by following the draft USPSTF recommendation to begin screening average-risked persons at age 45.