Milliman Consultants and Actuaries: Cancer Screening: Payer Cost/Benefit thru Employee Benefits Programs Some of the biggest successes and most effective weapons in the war on cancer — screening (early detection) and prevention — are not being used as effectively as they should be. Leading authorities have established that cancer screenings for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers are effective at reducing these cancers' incidence, severity and mortality. This November 2005 paper, which was commissioned by C-Change and the American Cancer Society, demonstrates that covering and promoting full compliance with established screening recommendations thru employer-sponsored programs is low cost and cost effective for employee benefit programs.
The Michigan Breast Cancer Informed Consent Law (Public
Act 368 of 1978), as amended by Public Act 195 of 1986 and Public Act 15 of 1989, requires Michigan physicians to provide this publication to all persons who have been diagnosed as having breast cancer. Since 1986, providers have given this booklet to thousands of women throughout the state of Michigan. The booklet is reviewed periodically by breast cancer specialists, primary care providers, and breast cancer survivors to ensure that its content remains relevant and reflects the latest state of the science. The September 2008 version represents the fourth major revision of this resource, which is available in both Spanish and English versions. Copies of this publication are available free of charge in limited quantities to all Michigan residents.
Michigan Health Promotions Clearinghouse — Order form for cancer education materials (updated Feb. 12, 2009; available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file)*
The Clearinghouse offers printed materials ranging
from brochures to posters to educate residents about breast, cervical and
colorectal cancers; all materials are available free of
charge in limited quantities to Michigan residents. Sources for the
materials include the Michigan Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Cancer
Society, and the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation.
American Cancer Society (ACS) — Cancer Facts for Lesbians and Bisexual Women www.cancer.org/docroot/COM/content/div_NE/COM_11_1x_Cancer_Facts_for_Lesbian_and_Bisexual_Women.asp
The most common types of cancer among women are breast, lung, colon, uterine, and ovarian. Several studies suggest that lesbians and bisexual women get less routine care than other women, including breast and cervical cancer screening. The reasons for this include: low rates of health insurance; fear of discrimination; and past negative experience with health care providers. The American Cancer Society (ACS) has created this brochure to help raise awareness. The brochure contains information about risk factors, as well as prevention and early detection recommendations for breast, gynecological, lung, skin, and colon cancers. To order copies of the booklet, contact your local ACS office or phone ACS toll-free at 800-ACS-2345.
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) —Surgery Choices for Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has developed a booklet to help women recently diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. The booklet, available in both Spanish and English, provides evidence-based information to help women choose between lumpectomy, mastectomy, and mastectomy with breast reconstruction surgery. Included in the booklet are side-by-side comparisons of questions and answers for each procedure, such as whether the type of surgery a woman chooses will affect how long she lives, what the chances are that her cancer will return after surgery, and what her breast will look like after surgery. To request free copies of the printed booklet in either English or Spanish, phone the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse (toll-free) at 800-358-9295 or e-mail ahrqpubs@ahrq.gov.
National Cancer Institute (NCI) — Understanding Breast Changes www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understanding-breast-changes
The NCI has developed this booklet to help patients understand breast cancer screening results and explain important next steps in testing and diagnosis when screening results are abnormal. To order free copies of this booklet, phone the NCI toll-free at 800-4-CANCER or visit https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/ncipubs/details.asp?pid=1323.
Inside Cancer http://insidecancer.org
This award-winning Web site, operated by the Dolan DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, offers users a multimedia guide to cancer biology. Through animations and expert interviews, visitors learn the hallmarks of cancer, cancer causes and prevention, cancer diagnosis and treatment, and cancer pathways. The site was produced by a grant from the National Center for Research Resources, a component of the National Institutes of Health.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month resources available through the Michigan Cancer Consortium Monthly Theme Calendar (Note: Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed in October.)
National Cancer Institute — "Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle" Web Site http://understandingrisk.cancer.gov
This site offers a reliable source for individuals and healthcare providers who are seeking: risk information for six common cancer types (breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate, and skin); steps to reduce an individual's risk; tips for understanding cancer news stories; and tools an individual can use with his/her provider to manage his/her cancer risk.
*Please Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open, view and print this file once it has been downloaded. If you need a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader, please click here.
(Michigan Department of Community Health fact sheet; October 2009 revision) (available as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file)*