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| TO: | All Indian Health Service Employees |
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| FROM: | Director, Indian Health Service |
| SUBJECT: | Indian Health Service Guidance for Cancer Screening |
The purpose of this Special General Memorandum (SGM) is to provide Indian Health Service (IHS) providers guidance regarding recommendations for clinical cancer preventive screenings.
According to the recent release of the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer , the overall cancer incidence rate from 2014 to 2018 was highest among non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people. The cancer mortality rate among AI/AN people is 122.4 per 100,000 (CDC U.S. Cancer Statistic, 2020). Early detection and screening are important to detect cancer in its earliest stages for effective treatment, to reduce complications, and to improve survival rates. See attachment A, “Cancer Moonshot Clinical Guidance References APA,” a reference list of studies and recommendations.
It is the policy of the IHS that all providers will follow the outlined AI/AN standard recommendations for cancer preventive screenings for patients, in an effort to detect early and ensure appropriate care is taken. See attachment B, “Cancer Screening Recommendation Spreadsheet,” to find the IHS screening recommendations in comparison to other industry standards.
Effective Date
This SGM becomes effective on the date signed.
/Roselyn Tso/
Roselyn Tso
Director
Indian Health Service
Attachments:
A: Cancer Moonshot Clinical Guidance References APA [PDF - 580 KB]
B: Cancer Screening Recommendation Spreadsheet [XLSX - 20 KB]
